Summary:
The Benton CCSD 47 district in Illinois operates two schools: Benton Grade School K-4, an elementary school serving grades K-4, and Benton Grade School 5-8, a middle school serving grades 5-8. The data reveals a mixed performance across the two schools, with the middle school outperforming the elementary school on several key metrics.
Benton Grade School 5-8 stands out as a stronger performer, ranking in the top 50% of Illinois middle schools and earning a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger. The school outperformed district and state averages in English Language Arts proficiency and had relatively high science proficiency rates. In contrast, Benton Grade School K-4 struggled with lower test scores, particularly in mathematics, and had a high chronic absenteeism rate of 25.4%.
The data also reveals differences in per-student spending and student-teacher ratios between the two schools, with the middle school receiving higher funding and having a lower student-teacher ratio. However, these factors do not necessarily translate directly to higher academic performance, as the elementary school's lower spending did not result in better outcomes. The district should focus on addressing the root causes of the elementary school's challenges, such as chronic absenteeism, to ensure equitable and high-quality education for all students in the Benton CCSD 47 district.
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