Summary:
The 61842 zip code area has only one elementary school, Ruth M Schneider Elementary School, which serves grades PK-3 and is part of the Blue Ridge CUSD 18 district. While the school's academic performance is generally lower than the district and state averages, there are some bright spots, such as the 3rd-grade Math proficiency rate being on par with the state. However, the school faces challenges, including a high chronic absenteeism rate of 25.4% and serving a population with significant economic challenges, as evidenced by over 50% of students being eligible for free or reduced-price lunch.
Academically, Ruth M Schneider Elementary School has room for improvement. In the 2024-2025 school year, only 48.3% of students were proficient or better in ELA, compared to 49.7% for the district and 53.1% for the state. Similarly, in the 2023-2024 school year, only 15.4% of 3rd-grade students were proficient or better in ELA, compared to 15.4% for the district and 30.6% for the state. However, the school's 3rd-grade Math proficiency rate in 2024-2025 was 50%, on par with the district and state averages.
Despite the academic challenges, the school appears to be allocating significant resources to support student learning, with a per-student spending of $16,529 in the 2023-2024 school year and a relatively low student-teacher ratio of 13.2 to 1. The high chronic absenteeism rate, however, suggests that there may be opportunities to improve student engagement and attendance, which could positively impact academic outcomes.
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