Summary:
In zip code 90638, which serves the La Mirada, CA area, there are two public middle schools—Reginald M. Benton Middle and Arlie F. Hutchinson Middle—both part of the Norwalk-La Mirada Unified district and serving grades 6 through 8.
Comparing the two, Arlie F. Hutchinson Middle stands out as the higher-performing school in the area. It is ranked significantly higher statewide and consistently outperforms Benton Middle in core subjects like English, math, and science. For example, over half of Hutchinson students are proficient in math compared to about a third at Benton. Hutchinson also benefits from a lower student-to-teacher ratio and a notably lower rate of chronic student absenteeism, which is linked to better academic outcomes.
Both schools serve similar student populations and outperform their district's average in most subjects, making them relative strengths within the Norwalk-La Mirada Unified district. The performance gap, especially in mathematics, suggests differences in school-specific factors like instruction or programs. For parents, Hutchinson represents the top academic choice in 90638, while both schools are achieving results above the broader district average.
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