Summary:
The 44890 zip code area is home to three schools - Willard Elementary School, Willard High School, and Willard Middle School - all part of the Willard City school district. While these schools face challenges common to high-poverty areas, they also show pockets of academic success that could be leveraged for broader improvement.
Among the standout schools, Willard Middle School stands out for its relatively strong performance on state tests, particularly in English Language Arts where 73.6% of 7th graders were proficient or better, compared to the state average of 62.9%. The school also had an impressive 100% of 8th graders proficient or better in Algebra I, significantly outperforming the district and state averages. In contrast, Willard High School has more inconsistent academic performance, but does boast a relatively high 4-year graduation rate of 95.3%.
Across the district, the schools face common challenges, including high chronic absenteeism rates ranging from 24.9% to 25.9%, and very high free/reduced lunch rates, from 52.34% at the high school to over 80% at the elementary school. While spending per student is in line with state averages, it may not be sufficient to address the needs of these high-poverty student populations. By leveraging the bright spots of success and taking a holistic, data-driven approach to supporting these schools, the district can work to drive sustained improvements in student outcomes.
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