Elementary Schools in Gwinn Area Community Schools

The Gwinn Area Community Schools district in Michigan is home to two elementary schools: KI Sawyer Elementary School and George D Gilbert Elementary School. While both schools serve students in the same district, the data analysis reveals significant performance differences between the two.

George D Gilbert Elementary School appears to be the standout school, with a higher statewide ranking and a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger, compared to a 1-star rating for KI Sawyer Elementary School. George D Gilbert also outperforms KI Sawyer and the district/state averages in most subject areas and grade levels, particularly in 5th grade science and math. In contrast, KI Sawyer Elementary struggles with low proficiency rates, especially in 3rd and 5th grade English Language Arts and 5th grade social studies.

However, both schools face challenges, such as alarmingly high chronic absenteeism rates that are significantly above the state average. Additionally, KI Sawyer Elementary serves a significantly more economically disadvantaged student population, with a free/reduced lunch rate of 85.66% compared to 63.3% at George D Gilbert Elementary. While KI Sawyer spends more per student, the data does not provide a clear indication of the effectiveness of this approach in addressing the achievement gap between the two schools. The Gwinn Area Community Schools district should focus on identifying and implementing best practices to raise student proficiency levels across both schools and address the identified challenges, particularly in the areas of chronic absenteeism and academic achievement.