Summary:
Middle-school families in McKinleyville Union Elementary have one listed option: McKinleyville Middle, serving grades 6–8 with 302 students. The most important finding is that its 2025–2026 proficiency rates were below state results in all three reported subjects, with the largest gaps in English language arts (ELA) and math.
There is no meaningful school-to-school leader or trailer because McKinleyville Middle is the only school listed. Compared with the state, its strongest subject was science: 28% of students were proficient, 8 percentage points below the state’s 36%. ELA was 33% versus 49% statewide, a 16-point gap, while math was 23% versus 38%, a 15-point gap. Seventh grade stands out as the clearest weak spot within the school: ELA proficiency was 29%, 22 points below the state, and math was 16%, 21 points below. The gaps were smaller in sixth-grade ELA and math (13 and 10 points) and eighth-grade ELA and math (13 and 10 points).
Results are moving in different directions: from 2024–2025 to 2025–2026, ELA improved by 3 percentage points and its state gap narrowed by 3 points, while math fell by 3 points and its gap widened by 4. Science also fell by 3 points, and its state gap widened by 7. SchoolDigger’s ranking declined from the 42nd percentile in 2023–2024 to the 32nd percentile in 2025–2026, a 10-point drop. Other context includes chronic absenteeism of 30% in 2025–2026, compared with 25% districtwide and 18% statewide; a 17.9:1 student–teacher ratio in 2024–2025; and 53% free/reduced lunch eligible in 2024–2025. These figures describe one school and do not support comparisons with other area schools.
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