Summary:
The Gowanda Central School District in New York contains a single middle school, Gowanda Middle School, which serves students in grades 6-8. The school's performance has declined in recent years, with its statewide ranking dropping from 869 out of 1,500 New York middle schools in 2022-2023 to 1,224 out of 1,500 in 2024-2025, earning it a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.
Gowanda Middle School's academic performance is a concern, with proficiency rates on the New York State Assessments generally below the state averages, particularly in English Language Arts (ELA). The school's ELA proficiency rates range from 24.42% to 41.3% across grade levels, compared to the state average of 50.86% to 56.61%. While the school's math proficiency rates are slightly better, ranging from 29.11% to 47.83%, they still fall short of the state average of 46.74% to 56.47%. Additionally, over 56% of Gowanda Middle School students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a relatively high level of economic disadvantage among the student population.
Despite the school's underperformance, Gowanda Middle School has a relatively high spending per student of $29,737, which is higher than the state average. This raises questions about the efficiency and effectiveness of the school's resource allocation and spending priorities. The school's low student-teacher ratio of 9:1 is generally considered a positive indicator for student learning and support, but it has not translated into improved academic outcomes for the students. The district and school leadership should closely examine these findings and develop targeted strategies to improve student performance and overall school quality.
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