Summary:
The 64644 zip code is home to a single public high school, Penney High, which serves grades 9-12 and is part of the Hamilton R-II school district. While Penney High has seen fluctuations in its statewide ranking, it maintains a strong 95.9% four-year graduation rate. However, the school faces challenges in academic performance, with proficiency rates in Algebra I and Biology I below district and state averages.
Penney High's academic performance has been inconsistent, with its statewide ranking ranging from 42nd out of 361 schools in 2021-2022 to 256th out of 367 schools in 2024-2025. The school's Algebra I proficiency rate of 17.9% is significantly lower than the district (19%) and state (45.4%) averages, while its Biology I proficiency rate of 33.3% is on par with the district but still below the state average of 37.3%. This suggests that Penney High may need to focus on strengthening its core academic areas to improve student outcomes.
Despite the academic challenges, Penney High has a relatively high percentage of students (39.06%) receiving free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a significant population of economically disadvantaged students. The school's higher-than-average per-student spending and favorable student-teacher ratio of 9.7 to 1 suggest that the district is investing resources in the school, but these investments may not be fully translating into improved academic performance. Targeted interventions and support, along with a focus on strengthening core academic areas, may be necessary to help Penney High achieve more consistent and stronger academic performance.
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