Summary:
In zip code 33334, there is one middle school, James S. Rickards Middle School, serving grades 6 through 8 in Oakland Park, Florida, with a total enrollment of 770 students.
James S. Rickards Middle School presents a stark contrast in performance. The school excels in advanced high school-level End of Course (EOC) exams, with 94% proficiency in Biology 1, 76% in Geometry, and 74% in Algebra 1, all significantly outperforming the Broward district and state averages. However, the school struggles with grade-level core subjects; for example, only 28% of 8th graders were proficient in Science, and just 34% of 6th graders met Math standards. This creates a "two-tier" dynamic where high-achieving students thrive while the majority fall behind. A critical concern is the chronic absenteeism rate of 37.6%, which is notably worse than both the district (33.6%) and state (31.4%) averages and likely a major factor in the school's low overall state ranking, which has been in the 17th to 20th percentile with a 1-star rating for three consecutive years.
For parents, the key takeaway is that James S. Rickards Middle School offers exceptional opportunities for students ready for advanced coursework, but the general student body struggles to meet grade-level expectations in English Language Arts, Math, and Science. The school spends $11,571 per student and has a student-teacher ratio of 18.3:1, but the high absenteeism and inconsistent year-over-year test scores suggest that resources may not be effectively addressing the needs of the majority of students. Addressing chronic absenteeism appears to be the most impactful step the school could take to improve overall outcomes.
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