Summary:
This analysis examines three elementary schools (all serving grades PK-8 or TK-6) within the Duarte Unified School District in California, a district with a moderate statewide ranking.
Valley View Academy of Technical and Creative Learning is the clear standout, ranking in the 77th percentile statewide with the strongest test scores in English, math, and science, and a remarkably low chronic absenteeism rate of 13.9%. Maxwell Academy shows a positive trajectory, improving its state ranking this year and demonstrating particular strength in middle school English. Beardslee Dual Language Immersion Academy, while offering a specialized program, currently performs below the district average in core academic subjects.
Key takeaways for parents include a significant performance gap between Valley View and the other two schools within the same district. Valley View's low absenteeism and focus on technical and creative learning correlate strongly with its success, especially in science where it far exceeds the state average. The district faces a common challenge with declining math performance in the middle school grades at Maxwell and Beardslee. While per-student spending is similar at Valley View and Beardslee, Maxwell operates effectively with slightly less funding, indicating that factors beyond budget significantly influence school outcomes.
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