Summary:
The Los Alamitos Unified School District, a highly-ranked district in the 94th percentile statewide, operates two middle schools (Sharon Christa McAuliffe Middle and Oak Middle) serving grades 6-8 for approximately 2,016 students in total.
When comparing the two schools, Oak Middle stands out as the higher performer, ranking 144th in the state with significantly higher proficiency rates in English (80.83%), Math (65.19%), and Science (67.51%) than its district peer. It also reports a notably lower chronic absenteeism rate of 5.8%. Sharon Christa McAuliffe Middle, while maintaining a strong 4-5 star rating, ranks 300th statewide with lower academic scores across subjects and a higher absenteeism rate of 10.1%, though it spends more per student.
Both schools far exceed California state averages in all subjects, reflecting the overall strength of the Los Alamitos Unified district. A key finding is that higher per-student spending at McAuliffe Middle does not correlate with higher test scores, suggesting other factors like the much lower chronic absenteeism at Oak Middle play a critical role in academic success. Parents should note that while both schools are strong options, Oak Middle demonstrates more consistent excellence and stronger outcomes in the key metrics measured.
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