Summary
Benson Polytechnic High School is a public high school in Portland, Oregon, serving 818 students in grades 9-12. The school is part of the Portland School District 1J, which is ranked 13 out of 140 districts in the state and has a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger.
While Benson Polytechnic has had a mixed performance in recent years, with its statewide ranking ranging from 103 to 191 out of Oregon high schools and a 1 to 3 star rating from SchoolDigger, the school faces several challenges. Its academic performance, as measured by standardized test scores, lags behind the district and state averages, with only 42.5% of 11th graders proficient or better in English Language Arts, 25% in math, and 29.9% in science. The school's four-year graduation rates have also been relatively low, ranging from 81.3% to 90.7% in recent years, compared to the district average of around 81.8%. Additionally, Benson Polytechnic has struggled with high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 34.3% to 48.2%, which is significantly higher than the district and state averages.
Interestingly, Benson Polytechnic's performance varies significantly across different student subgroups, with the school ranking highly for male students and special education students but much lower for female students, African American students, Hispanic students, and gifted and talented students. Despite these challenges, the school spends significantly more per student ($32,010 in 2022-2023) compared to the nearby high schools, such as Grant High School, Cleveland High School, and Franklin High School, which range from $19,579 to $24,411 per student. This suggests that the school may be receiving additional resources or funding, but this does not appear to be translating into better academic outcomes.
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