Summary:
This analysis covers seven elementary schools (grades K-5) in the Gilroy Unified school district, revealing significant performance differences among schools serving a predominantly economically disadvantaged student population.
When comparing schools, Las Animas Elementary and Luigi Aprea Elementary stand out as the district's top performers, ranking in the top 30% of all California elementary schools. Las Animas has the strongest overall test scores and the lowest rate of chronic student absenteeism, while Luigi Aprea excels particularly in science. In contrast, Glen View Elementary and Eliot Elementary rank in the bottom 15% statewide, with the lowest test scores and the highest percentages of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch.
Overall, the district's average test scores are below the state average in all subjects. A notable finding is that the schools with the highest per-student spending, like Glen View and El Roble Elementary, tend to have the lowest academic performance, which often reflects greater student needs rather than inefficiency. The wide gap between the highest and lowest-performing schools within the same district suggests there are opportunities to share successful strategies, particularly around improving attendance and science instruction, to help raise achievement across all schools.
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