Summary:
This analysis covers two public middle schools (grades 6-8) located in zip code 95821 in Sacramento, both operated by the San Juan Unified school district, which serve student populations with high levels of economic need.
Comparing the two schools, Arcade Middle is the stronger performer, with significantly higher academic proficiency rates in English, math, and science and a lower chronic absenteeism rate of 22.2%. In contrast, Katherine Johnson Middle faces substantial challenges, with proficiency rates below 9% in all subjects, a chronic absenteeism rate of 34.1%, and a consistent state ranking in the bottom 2% of schools over the past three years.
An interesting finding is that Arcade Middle achieves better outcomes despite having a larger average class size, suggesting factors like school leadership, teaching quality, or specific programs may influence success. Both schools perform below district averages, indicating area-wide educational challenges, but the wide performance gap between them highlights the importance for parents to look closely at each school's specific support systems and learning environment.
Thank you for your feedback!