Summary:
This analysis examines the two middle schools (grades 6-8) within the Novato Unified School District in California, revealing distinct differences in performance and environment between Sinaloa Middle and San Jose Middle.
Sinaloa Middle stands out as the higher-performing school, with student test scores in English, math, and science consistently above both the district and state averages. It also has a notably lower rate of chronic student absenteeism at 11.9%. In contrast, San Jose Middle has proficiency rates below the district average and a higher absenteeism rate of 17.9%. Interestingly, San Jose receives about $1,500 more in funding per student, indicating that factors beyond spending significantly influence these outcomes.
Key patterns include a typical dip in English scores in 7th grade at both schools, and a particularly low 8th-grade math score at San Jose. While Sinaloa has maintained strong statewide rankings for several years, San Jose's ranking has declined. Both schools share the same district ranking, which seems inconsistent given the performance gap. For parents, this highlights two schools with different results, where Sinaloa currently demonstrates stronger academic outcomes and student attendance within the same district.
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