Summary:
The Santa Fe area is home to two middle schools, Milagro Middle and Edward Ortiz Middle, both serving grades 6-8. While both schools face significant academic challenges, Milagro Middle appears to be the stronger performer of the two, with higher proficiency rates in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and 8th grade Science compared to Edward Ortiz Middle.
Both schools serve a high-need student population, with over 98% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. However, the relatively low student-teacher ratios at each school (10.9 at Edward Ortiz Middle and 10.4 at Milagro Middle) suggest that class size is not the primary driver of their academic struggles. Instead, factors such as curriculum, instruction, and school leadership may be more significant contributors to the performance gaps observed between the schools and the Santa Fe district and state averages.
Notably, both schools lag significantly behind the district and state in Mathematics proficiency, with only 7.16% of students at Edward Ortiz Middle and 15.2% of students at Milagro Middle performing at or above grade level. Improving math skills should be a top priority for these schools as they work to close the achievement gaps and provide their students with the necessary foundation for academic success.
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