Summary:
There is one middle school serving zip code 47243, Southwestern Middle School, which serves grades 6-8. This school is part of the Southwestern-Jefferson County Con district.
Southwestern Middle School has consistently received a low SchoolDigger rating of 1 star out of 5 and has ranked in the bottom quartile of Indiana middle schools for the past three reported school years. The school's chronic absenteeism rate for the 2023-2024 school year was 17.8%, which is a significant concern. Test scores in English Language Arts (ELA) and Math are consistently below both the district and state averages across all reported grades and years. Notably, 8th-grade math proficiency in 2023-2024 was a concerning 3.45%. Science proficiency for 6th graders was also below the Indiana average. The school serves a student population where 62.42% qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a significant portion of students come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Despite spending $9,715 per student, which is a substantial amount, this does not appear to be translating into improved academic outcomes. The student-teacher ratio of 15.4 is within a reasonable range.
The key insights highlight that Southwestern Middle School faces persistent challenges in academic performance, evidenced by its low rankings and test scores, particularly in math. High chronic absenteeism is another critical issue that likely impacts student learning. While the school has a moderate student-teacher ratio and invests significantly per student, these resources have not yet effectively addressed the academic gaps. The high rate of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch underscores the importance of the school's role in providing support to a population that may face additional challenges.
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