Summary:
The city of La Mesa, California is home to 17 schools serving students from elementary through high school, including 11 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, 2 high schools, and 2 alternative schools. The schools in this diverse area exhibit a range of academic performance, with standout institutions like Helix High and La Mesa Arts Academy leading the way.
Helix High, a high-performing public charter school, ranks among the top 205 high schools in California and boasts a 96.1% four-year graduation rate. Its students significantly outperform the state average in English Language Arts/Literacy and Mathematics. In contrast, Grossmont High has the highest chronic absenteeism rate at 23.1%, which is a concern that warrants further investigation. The alternative schools, such as The Learning Choice Academy - East County and JCS - Manzanita, exhibit unique characteristics, including lower chronic absenteeism rates but lower graduation rates compared to the traditional public schools.
The schools in La Mesa also exhibit significant socioeconomic disparities, as evidenced by the wide range of free and reduced-price lunch rates, from 28.82% at Sparrow Academy to 61.47% at Helix High. Additionally, the student-teacher ratios vary across the schools, with Northmont Elementary having the highest ratio and Trust Blended Learning having the lowest, which may contribute to the observed academic outcomes.
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