Middle Schools in Lodi Unified

This analysis examines six middle schools within the Lodi Unified School District in California, primarily serving grades 7-8, and reveals a district with one exceptional standout and significant performance gaps among its traditional middle schools.

Elkhorn is the clear district leader, ranking #6 in the state with extraordinary proficiency rates above 86% in all subjects and a chronic absenteeism rate of just 7.9%. In contrast, the other five schools perform below state averages. Delta Sierra Middle faces the most significant challenges, with the lowest academic scores and an alarmingly high chronic absenteeism rate of 40.7%. Christa McAuliffe Middle, Millswood Middle, and Lodi Middle show similar, mid-range performance, while Morada Middle also trails behind the district averages.

Notably, higher per-student spending and lower student-teacher ratios do not automatically lead to better outcomes here, as seen with Delta Sierra. Science is a particular challenge across most schools, with proficiency rates consistently 10-14 points below the state average. The data shows a strong need for targeted support at the struggling schools and suggests that successful practices from the top performer could provide valuable lessons for improving outcomes district-wide.