Summary:
The city of Anderson, Indiana is home to two middle schools: Highland Middle School and Anderson Intermediate School. Both schools serve students in grades 6-8 and are part of the Anderson Community School Corp district. However, the data paints a concerning picture, as these middle schools consistently underperform compared to state and district averages on academic measures.
Neither Highland Middle School nor Anderson Intermediate School stand out as high-performing institutions. Both schools have low proficiency rates in English Language Arts and Math on the ILEARN assessments, with scores well below the state and district averages. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, only 17.22% of students at Highland Middle School were proficient or better in ELA, compared to the district average of 18.68% and the state average of 37.9%. Similarly, at Anderson Intermediate School, only 13.69% of students were proficient or better in Math, compared to the district average of 19.11% and the state average of 39.7%.
The challenges facing these middle schools extend beyond academic performance. Both Highland Middle School and Anderson Intermediate School have high rates of chronic absenteeism, at 17.8%, which may be contributing to their struggles. Additionally, the schools serve a predominantly low-income student population, with over 77% of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. Despite the low student-teacher ratios, the schools have consistently ranked in the bottom 20% of Indiana middle schools, with a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger. Addressing these systemic issues will require a comprehensive, data-driven approach to improve educational outcomes for the students in the Anderson community.
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