Summary:
The J O Combs Unified School District in Arizona operates 9 schools, including 6 elementary schools, 2 high schools, and 1 alternative school. The district as a whole is ranked 200 out of 289 school districts in the state and is rated 2 out of 5 stars by SchoolDigger.
A few schools stand out in the district. Ranch Elementary School consistently performs above the district and state averages on standardized tests, with 50% of 5th graders proficient or better in English Language Arts in 2024-2025, compared to 31% district-wide and 38% statewide. Combs Traditional Academy also demonstrates strong academic performance, with 44-45% of 3rd-5th graders proficient or better in ELA and Math. Additionally, the Combs Online School for Success stands out for its relatively high 4-year graduation rate of 78.4% and low dropout rate of 5.2%.
However, the district faces significant challenges, with large disparities in academic performance between the top-performing schools and the lower-performing ones. Both Combs High School and the alternative high schools struggle with relatively low test scores and high dropout rates compared to state averages. The wide range in per-student spending and student-teacher ratios across the schools may contribute to these performance differences, suggesting a need for the district to examine its resource allocation and instructional practices to address these issues and improve outcomes for all students.
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