Summary:
The city of Lawrence, Massachusetts is home to 29 schools serving students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, including 16 elementary schools, 8 middle schools, 4 high schools, and 1 alternative school. The schools in this predominantly Hispanic district face significant academic and resource challenges, with consistently low proficiency rates on standardized tests compared to state averages.
However, a few schools stand out as potential bright spots, including Community Day Charter Public School, which ranks in the top half of Massachusetts elementary schools, and Spark Academy, a middle school with test scores exceeding the Lawrence district average. Another middle school, Alexander B. Bruce, also performs better than its peers, though still below state levels.
The data reveals stark disparities, with the highest-performing Lawrence schools struggling to get more than 60% of students to proficiency, while the district as a whole has very high rates of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. Per-student spending and student-teacher ratios also vary widely, suggesting resource inequities that may contribute to the academic challenges. Addressing these systemic issues will likely require a multi-faceted approach to improve outcomes for all students in the Lawrence school district.
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