Summary:
The Dodge City, Kansas school district consists of 11 schools, including 8 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high school, serving a diverse student population with a high rate of economic disadvantage. While the district faces significant challenges in improving academic achievement, a few standout schools, such as Miller Elementary and Soule Elementary, demonstrate relatively stronger performance compared to their peers.
Across the district, test scores lag significantly behind the Kansas state averages, with the highest-performing elementary school, Miller Elementary, still falling 8-20 percentage points behind in proficiency. The district's schools also have very high rates of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 64.66% at Ross Elementary to 93.89% at Central Elementary, indicating widespread economic disadvantage. While spending per student varies widely, from $8,652 at Ross Elementary to $14,802 at Miller Elementary, there does not appear to be a clear correlation between spending and test score performance.
The Dodge City school district's challenges suggest the need to address underlying factors, such as equity, resource allocation, and instructional practices, in order to drive better outcomes for students. The school with the lowest student-teacher ratio, Soule Elementary, shows relatively stronger performance, highlighting the potential benefits of smaller class sizes and more individualized attention.
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