Summary:
The Terra Bella Union Elementary district consists of two schools, Terra Bella Elementary (grades K-5) and Carl Smith Middle (grades 6-8), which together serve a high-need community where over 93% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.
Comparing the two schools reveals distinct strengths: Carl Smith Middle excels in English Language Arts, with 8th graders performing close to the state average, and has a notably lower rate of chronic student absenteeism than both the state and its elementary counterpart. In contrast, Terra Bella Elementary shows relative strength in early mathematics but sees a decline in proficiency by 5th grade, a trend that continues into 6th grade before recovering in middle school.
Overall, the district performs below state averages in core subjects, but there are positive signs, including Carl Smith Middle's science scores nearly matching the state average and Terra Bella Elementary's improving statewide ranking. The significant difference in per-student spending between the two schools, with the elementary school receiving more funding, is a notable aspect of the district's resource allocation.
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