Summary:
This analysis covers two high-performing middle schools (grades 7-9) in Davis, California (zip code 95616), both part of the highly-ranked Davis Joint Unified school district.
Both Oliver Wendell Holmes Junior High and Ralph Waldo Emerson Junior High are excellent, consistently earning top ratings, but they show distinct strengths. Holmes is the clear academic leader, particularly in 8th-grade math and science, where its students significantly outperform those at Emerson. Interestingly, Emerson receives more funding per student but achieves slightly lower test scores, while maintaining a small advantage in student attendance with a lower chronic absenteeism rate.
The most notable finding is the "8th-grade divergence," where students at both schools perform similarly in 7th grade, but a large gap in math and science proficiency emerges by 8th grade at Holmes. Both schools far exceed state averages in all subjects and have much better student attendance than typical California schools, making them outstanding choices. For parents, the choice may come down to prioritizing top-tier academic results in core subjects (Holmes) or considering a school with exceptional attendance (Emerson) within the same strong district.
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