Summary:
This analysis examines four elementary schools (grades K-5) in zip code 94580, part of the San Lorenzo Unified school district, revealing significant performance differences among schools serving similar student populations.
Bay Elementary stands out as the highest-performing school, with test scores approaching state averages and the best ranking (in the 59th percentile statewide), while also having the lowest rate of chronic student absenteeism. In contrast, Hesperian Elementary faces the greatest challenges, with the lowest test scores and ranking (in the 2nd percentile) alongside the highest chronic absenteeism rate. The other two schools, Del Rey Elementary and Grant Elementary, perform in the middle range within this group.
Notably, these performance gaps exist even though all four schools have comparable percentages of students from low-income families. The analysis also found that higher per-student spending did not guarantee better academic results, and that chronic absenteeism is a serious concern across all schools, exceeding the state average. For parents, this highlights the importance of looking at individual school performance within the district, as some schools like Bay Elementary significantly outperform the district's overall low statewide ranking.
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