Summary:
This analysis examines two middle schools serving grades 5-8 in Grass Valley, California (zip code 95945): Lyman Gilmore Middle in the Grass Valley Elementary district and Union Hill Middle in the Union Hill Elementary district.
Union Hill Middle stands out as the higher-performing school, ranking in the 66th percentile statewide with significantly stronger academic results. For example, 50% of its students are proficient in English Language Arts compared to 37% at Lyman Gilmore Middle, and it has a much lower chronic absenteeism rate of 7.5% versus 26.7%. While both schools have similar class sizes, Lyman Gilmore Middle receives over $3,200 more in funding per student but has seen a decline in its statewide ranking percentile in recent years.
The most notable finding is the strong correlation between lower economic disadvantage and better school outcomes in this area. Union Hill Middle serves a student population with far fewer students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch and achieves stronger, more consistent results across all grade levels and subjects, particularly in science where it exceeds the state average. For parents, this comparison highlights two distinct educational environments within the same zip code, with one school demonstrating notably higher achievement and student attendance.
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