Middle Schools in Turlock Unified

This analysis looks at the two middle schools, Turlock Junior High (grades 7-8) and Marvin A. Dutcher Middle (grades 6-8), serving over 2,100 students within the Turlock Unified School District.

Comparing the two, Marvin A. Dutcher Middle is the higher-performing school, ranking in the 54th percentile statewide compared to Turlock Junior High's 47th percentile. Dutcher Middle excels in English Language Arts, with over 50% of students proficient, and has a significantly lower rate of chronic absenteeism at 13.7%, which is well below the district and state averages. Turlock Junior High shows a relative strength in mathematics, though both schools perform well below the state average in this subject.

Key takeaways for parents include the strong link between attendance and achievement, as seen in Dutcher Middle's lower absenteeism and higher scores. Both schools face challenges meeting state averages in math and science, but Dutcher Middle has shown steady improvement in its state ranking over the past three years. While the schools have similar resources per student, Dutcher Middle's effective strategies in promoting attendance and developing literacy skills across grade levels are notable strengths worth considering.