Summary:
This analysis examines four middle schools serving grades 6-8 (except Lorbeer Middle which serves 7-8) within the Pomona Unified School District, revealing significant performance differences among them.
Lorbeer Middle stands out as the district's top performer, with the highest test scores in English, math, and science, the best state ranking, and the lowest rate of chronic student absenteeism at 17.9%. In contrast, Emerson Middle, Simons Middle, and Marshall Middle show lower proficiency rates and struggle with high chronic absenteeism, with Emerson nearing 30%. Interestingly, Marshall Middle has the most resources per student and the smallest class sizes but achieves only moderate academic results.
The district faces a common challenge with chronic absenteeism, as three of the four schools have rates above the state average, which impacts learning. While Marshall Middle has shown recent improvement in its state ranking, the data suggests parents should pay close attention to both academic performance metrics and attendance rates when evaluating these schools. The overall district ranking places Pomona Unified in the lower third compared to others in the state.
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