Chemawa Middle

Chemawa Middle is a public school serving about 885 students in grades 7 and 8 within the Riverside Unified School District, performing in the lower-middle tier of California schools with a current 2-star rating.

Academically, the school faces significant challenges, with student proficiency in core subjects—especially mathematics, where only 19% are proficient—falling below both district and state averages. This performance lags behind other district schools like Frank Augustus Miller Middle and Matthew Gage Middle, which serve students with similar resources but achieve stronger results. However, Chemawa shows a notable bright spot in dramatically improved student attendance, now boasting a lower chronic absenteeism rate than the district, state, and nearby schools such as Central Middle and Mission Middle.

When compared across district lines, Chemawa's position is mixed; it outperforms some very low-performing schools in neighboring districts like Wells Middle but trails behind others like Ysmael Villegas Middle that serve similar student populations. The school demonstrates particular effectiveness in supporting some student subgroups, such as homeless students, while other groups show a need for more targeted help. The analysis suggests that while the school's high poverty rate presents a real challenge, it does not solely determine outcomes, and Chemawa's progress in attendance and specific supports provides a foundation for broader academic improvement.