Middle Schools in Cortland City School District

The Cortland City School District in New York operates two middle schools: Cortland Junior High School and Randall Middle School. Both schools serve students in grades 5-8 and face challenges in academic performance, with proficiency rates well below state averages in English Language Arts and Math.

Neither Cortland Junior High School nor Randall Middle School stand out as high-performing schools. Proficiency rates range from 34% to 42% in ELA and Math, significantly lower than the state averages of around 50-57%. The schools perform better in 8th grade Science, but still lag behind the state average. Both schools also have high rates of free and reduced lunch recipients, at 50.9% and 66.16%, respectively, indicating socioeconomic challenges that may be impacting student achievement.

Despite the relatively high spending per student ($25,676 for Cortland Junior High School and $25,344 for Randall Middle School) and low student-teacher ratios (9.5 and 10.1, respectively), the academic performance of the middle schools in the Cortland City School District remains consistently low, with little to no improvement over the past few years. Addressing the underlying factors, such as effective instructional strategies and supporting students' socioeconomic needs, may be crucial for improving student outcomes in this district.