Summary:
The 59901 zip code area of Kalispell, Montana is home to 7 middle schools serving grades 6-8, including Kalispell Middle School, West Valley Middle School, Evergreen Junior High, Cayuse Prairie 7-8, Smith Valley 7-8, Fair-Mont-Egan Middle School, and Helena Flats 7-8.
The data reveals stark contrasts in school performance, with Cayuse Prairie 7-8 and Fair-Mont-Egan Middle School standing out as high-performing schools, ranking 58th and 51st out of 222 Montana middle schools respectively. These smaller schools have impressive test scores, with proficiency rates well above the state averages. In contrast, Evergreen Junior High struggles, with the lowest proficiency rates in the data set.
Economic disadvantage, as measured by free/reduced lunch rates, appears to be a significant factor, with four of the seven middle schools having a 100% free/reduced lunch rate. However, the data suggests that factors beyond just economic disadvantage are influencing student outcomes, as the smaller, higher-performing schools serve populations with varying levels of economic need. The relationship between spending per student and school performance is also not clear-cut, indicating that targeted interventions may be necessary to address the equity gaps observed in this area.
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