Summary:
This analysis covers six public elementary schools (grades K-6) in the 92065 zip code of Ramona, CA, all part of the Ramona City Unified district, which show significant variation in performance and resources despite sharing the same district management.
Among these schools, James Dukes Elementary stands out as the top performer with the highest test scores in English and math, the highest per-student spending, and the second-lowest chronic absenteeism rate. Ramona Community Montessori also excels, particularly in science, and has the best attendance record. In contrast, Ramona Elementary faces the greatest challenges, ranking lowest in academics and having the highest rate of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch.
A clear pattern emerges where schools with lower rates of economic need, like James Dukes, generally outperform those with higher need. There is also a notable funding gap, with the top-performing school receiving over $3,300 more per student than the lowest-performing. Parents should note that fifth-grade math is an area of concern across most schools in the area, and that chronic absenteeism rates are higher than the state average at most campuses, which correlates with weaker academic outcomes.
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