Summary:
This analysis examines three middle schools serving grades 6-8 in Whittier, California (zip code 90604), revealing a range of performance and characteristics among Granada Middle, Rancho-Starbuck Intermediate, and Hillview Middle.
Granada Middle stands out as the highest-performing school in the area, ranking in the 88th percentile statewide with the strongest test scores in English, math, and science, along with a relatively low chronic absenteeism rate of 11.6%. Rancho-Starbuck Intermediate shows notable strengths, including the lowest chronic absenteeism at 9.3% and impressive 8th-grade English scores, placing it in the 79th percentile. Hillview Middle, while having the lowest test scores of the three, has shown improvement in its statewide ranking and operates with the smallest class sizes and highest per-student spending.
An interesting finding is that higher per-student funding and lower student-teacher ratios do not automatically translate to higher test scores, as seen in the comparison between the two schools in the East Whittier City Elementary district. School culture, reflected in attendance rates, appears closely linked to academic success. All three schools exceed California state averages in academic proficiency, offering solid educational options, with Granada Middle demonstrating particularly consistent high performance over several years.
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