Bentley Community School District

The Bentley Community School District consists of 4 schools, including 1 elementary school, 1 middle school, and 2 high schools (one of which is an alternative school) serving students in the area. The district faces significant academic challenges, with students performing well below state averages on standardized tests across all grade levels and subject areas.

While the overall district performance is poor, Bentley Middle School appears to be a relative bright spot, with stronger test scores and a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger. The small Bentley High School BOLD Academy serves an important function, providing an alternative pathway for students and maintaining a relatively high graduation rate despite its low academic performance. All schools in the district struggle with high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 29.5% to 29.5%, significantly higher than the state average.

The data indicates that the Bentley Community School District serves a high-needs student population, with all schools having very high percentages of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 70.64% to 81.07%. This likely contributes to the academic struggles seen across the district. While the challenges facing the Bentley Community School District are substantial, the relative success of Bentley Middle School and the role of the alternative high school suggest there may be opportunities to improve outcomes for students in the area.