Summary:
The Glendora Unified school district operates two middle schools, Goddard Middle and Sandburg Middle, both serving grades 6-8 with similar student enrollment sizes, providing a clear opportunity for comparison within the same community.
In direct comparison, Goddard Middle stands out as the higher-performing school, ranking in the 88th percentile statewide and consistently outperforming both the district and state averages in English, math, and science. Sandburg Middle also performs above state averages but ranks lower at the 73rd percentile, with its mathematics scores being notably below the district average. A key finding is that Sandburg receives more funding per student but has significantly higher rates of chronic student absenteeism, which is closely linked to its lower academic outcomes.
For parents, the most important takeaways are the consistent excellence at Goddard Middle and the distinct challenges at Sandburg Middle, particularly in 6th-grade math and overall attendance. The district as a whole is high-performing, but the gap between these two schools suggests families should look closely at each school's specific support systems and academic results when making a decision.
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