Summary:
This analysis examines 10 public schools in San Bernardino's 92411 zip code, serving grades K-12 within a high-need community where nearly all students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and most schools are part of the San Bernardino City Unified district.
When comparing schools, Ramona-Alessandro Elementary stands out as the top performer with the highest test scores and notably low chronic absenteeism. At the high school level, Arroyo Valley High achieves an exceptional graduation rate of 96.4%, despite test scores below state averages. In contrast, Woodward Leadership Academy (a charter school in its own district) shows severe academic challenges, despite having the highest per-student spending.
Key insights for parents include that chronic absenteeism is a major concern across most schools and is closely linked to lower academic performance. There is also a noticeable drop in test scores, especially in math, at the middle school level. Importantly, higher school spending in this area does not guarantee better results, suggesting how resources are used matters more than the total amount. The data shows that even within a challenging district context, some schools are finding ways to succeed in specific areas like graduation rates or elementary English proficiency.
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