Summary:
The city of Selma, Alabama is home to 14 schools, including 8 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, 2 high schools, and 1 alternative school. The schools in this area face significant challenges, with most underperforming compared to state averages on academic assessments.
Among the standout schools, Meadowview Elementary School has the highest performance on state assessments, with significantly higher proficiency rates in math and English than the district and state averages. In contrast, Saints Virtual Academy, an alternative school, has some of the lowest test scores in the district, but serves a unique population and provides an important educational option. The data also reveals that Selma High School has a relatively high 90% four-year graduation rate, which is a positive indicator.
Across the district, schools face significant challenges, including high chronic absenteeism rates, a majority of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, and wide achievement gaps compared to state averages, particularly in math. The data suggests that the schools with the highest percentages of students in poverty tend to have the lowest academic performance, highlighting the obstacles that high-poverty schools face in supporting student learning and achievement. However, the presence of the Saints Virtual Academy and the standout performance of Meadowview Elementary suggest that there may be opportunities to learn from pockets of success and innovative approaches within the Selma City and Dallas County school districts.
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