Summary:
Three middle schools serving grades 6-8 are located in the 92117 zip code of San Diego, all operating within the San Diego Unified school district, and they show notable differences in performance and student population.
Marston Middle stands out as the highest-performing school in the area, ranking in the 80th percentile statewide with strong test scores in English, math, and science and a very low chronic absenteeism rate of 12.2%. In contrast, Creative Performing and Media Arts has the lowest academic rankings and proficiency rates, alongside the highest chronic absenteeism at 27.5%, while Innovation Middle occupies a middle ground with average rankings but shows a particular strength in science instruction.
An interesting finding is that the higher-spending schools, Creative Performing and Innovation, receive about $4,000 more per student than Marston but achieve lower academic results, indicating that factors beyond funding significantly impact success. Parents should note the strong correlation between lower absenteeism and higher performance, as well as the consistent academic excellence demonstrated by Marston Middle across all grade levels compared to more variable results at the other two schools.
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