Summary:
The Barstow Unified school district serves a high-needs community through 13 schools, including 7 elementary, 3 middle, and 3 high schools, though it ranks in the bottom 5% of California districts overall.
Performance varies widely across schools, with Barstow STEM Academy standing out as the top performer in academics despite having large class sizes, while Barstow High shows impressive improvement with the district's highest graduation rate. In contrast, Crestline Elementary ranks at the very bottom statewide, and the alternative schools, Central High (Continuation) and BUSD School of Opportunity, face severe challenges with attendance and outcomes despite very high per-student funding.
A major district-wide concern is chronic absenteeism, which at 47.7% is more than double the state average and affects nearly every school. Academic proficiency in English, math, and science is significantly below state averages, with a notable drop in performance as students transition from elementary to middle school. The data suggests that successful models exist within the district, such as the specialized programs at the STEM academy and interventions at the high school level, but these successes are not yet consistent across all schools.
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