Summary:
The middle schools located in the 61350 zip code area, Shepherd Middle School and Central Intermediate School, are both underperforming compared to state and district averages across various metrics. Despite relatively high per-student spending and low student-teacher ratios, the schools struggle to achieve better academic outcomes, particularly in English Language Arts and Mathematics proficiency.
Both schools have consistently low proficiency rates, with Shepherd Middle School at 46.2% in ELA and 19.7% in Mathematics, and Central Intermediate School at 26.3% in Mathematics, compared to the district averages of 50.8% in ELA and 29.6% in Mathematics, and the state averages of 53.1% in ELA and 38.5% in Mathematics. Additionally, the schools face high chronic absenteeism rates, with 25.4% of students chronically absent in the 2024-2025 school year.
The data suggests that the middle schools in the 61350 zip code area serve a predominantly low-income population, with over 50% of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. This socioeconomic factor may be a contributing factor to the lower academic performance. However, the consistent underperformance and lack of improvement over the years indicate that the current strategies and interventions may not be effective in driving meaningful change. Addressing these systemic challenges will require a comprehensive and targeted approach to improve the educational outcomes for the students in this community.
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