Summary:
This analysis covers two public middle schools (grades 6-8) in the 92780 zip code of Tustin, California, both operated by the Tustin Unified school district, which is highly rated statewide.
When comparing the two schools, Columbus Tustin Middle and C. E. Utt Middle, they are very similar in overall academic performance and serve student populations with high economic need. However, key differences emerge: C. E. Utt Middle has a significantly lower rate of chronic student absenteeism (14.8% vs. 23.0%), which is a notable strength, while Columbus Tustin Middle shows a particular strength in 7th-grade mathematics proficiency.
Both schools spend more per student than the state average but have academic proficiency rates in English, math, and science that are substantially below their own district's averages. Their state rankings have declined in the most recent year. For parents, this indicates that while the schools are comparable to each other within the zip code, they face distinct challenges in student engagement and academic achievement relative to other schools in the broader Tustin Unified district.
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