Summary:
Zip code 92363 in Needles, California, is served by one middle school, Needles Middle School, which educates approximately 196 students in grades 6 through 8 within the Needles Unified School District.
Needles Middle School faces significant academic challenges, consistently ranking in the bottom quarter of California middle schools, with particularly low proficiency in mathematics where only about 12% of students meet standards. However, the school shows a relative strength in science, where its performance exceeds the Needles Unified district average. There are notable differences in performance between grade levels, with seventh graders performing much better in English than sixth or eighth graders, suggesting variability in student experience across grades.
Key factors for parents to consider include a chronic absenteeism rate of about 21%, indicating many students miss substantial school time, and a student population where over 80% qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting high economic need in the community. Despite per-student spending that is above the state average, academic outcomes remain low, highlighting the complex challenges the school navigates. For families in the area, this is the only public middle school option, and its performance is mixed, with serious struggles in core subjects but some instructional strengths, particularly in science education.
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