Summary:
The Firebaugh-Las Deltas Unified district operates six schools serving grades K-12 in a community where a very high percentage of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating significant economic need.
Within the district, Firebaugh High stands out as a consistent high performer, earning above-average state rankings with a 96% graduation rate, zero dropouts, and strong English scores that beat the state average. In contrast, El Puente High, a much smaller alternative school, struggles with severe chronic absenteeism and lower graduation rates despite having the highest per-student spending. The elementary and middle schools, including Hazel M. Bailey Primary, Arthur E. Mills Intermediate, and Firebaugh Middle, generally rank in the lower quartile statewide, though Arthur E. Mills Intermediate has remarkably low chronic absenteeism.
The district faces a significant challenge in mathematics, where proficiency rates are roughly half the state average across all schools, including at the otherwise strong Firebaugh High. Attendance patterns vary widely, from very low chronic absenteeism at the intermediate school to extremely high rates at the alternative high schools. The overall district rating is low, largely due to the performance of the elementary and middle schools, which masks the success of the comprehensive high school.
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