Summary:
The Newark Unified school district serves roughly 4,800 students across ten public schools, including six elementary schools, one middle school, and three high schools, with a mix of strong performers and schools facing significant challenges.
Families will find notable academic strengths at several schools, including Birch Grove Intermediate, John F. Kennedy Elementary, and Lincoln Elementary, which all earn high statewide rankings and post test scores above district and state averages. The district's main comprehensive high school, Newark Memorial High, also stands out with a graduation rate well above the state average and low chronic absenteeism. In contrast, August Schilling Elementary and the alternative Bridgepoint High are severely underperforming, with very low test scores and high rates of chronic absenteeism.
Key district-wide observations include an overall chronic absenteeism rate higher than the state average, a slight outperformance in English and math compared to California, but underperformance in science. A striking finding is that the highest per-student spending occurs at the lowest-performing schools, indicating that factors beyond funding, such as attendance and school culture, are critical for student success. The data suggests targeted support for attendance and middle school math instruction could help elevate performance across the district.
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