Summary:
This analysis examines two public middle schools in zip code 33971 (Lehigh Acres, FL): Varsity Lakes Middle School and Harns Marsh Middle School, both serving grades 6-8 within the Lee school district, which is ranked in the 20th percentile statewide.
Harns Marsh Middle School stands out as the higher-performing school in this zip code across nearly every metric. It ranks in the 30th percentile (earning 2 stars) compared to Varsity Lakes Middle School's 15th percentile (1 star). Harns Marsh excels in advanced math, with 90% of students proficient in Algebra 1 and an astonishing 95% proficient in Geometry—far exceeding district and state averages. It also spends $2,404 more per student ($12,277 vs. $9,873) and maintains a lower student-teacher ratio (18.1 vs. 21.9), which likely contributes to its stronger performance in 8th grade science (53% proficiency vs. 39%) and overall academic growth.
However, both schools share a critical weakness in 7th grade math, with proficiency rates of just 10% at Varsity Lakes and 18% at Harns Marsh—a massive gap compared to the state average of 53%. Additionally, despite being the higher-performing school, Harns Marsh has a significantly higher chronic absenteeism rate (40.1%) compared to Varsity Lakes (29.9%) and the state average (31.4%). This paradox suggests that while attending students achieve well, a large portion of the student body is missing enough school to be considered chronically absent, which is a major concern for overall school health. For parents, Harns Marsh offers stronger academic outcomes and resources, but both schools face challenges with foundational math skills and attendance.
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