Best Middle Schools in Zip Code 97236

The 97236 zip code area is home to two middle schools - Centennial Middle School and Alice Ott Middle School. While both schools serve a predominantly economically disadvantaged student population, the data suggests that Alice Ott Middle School is the stronger performer of the two, with higher academic proficiency rates and a better statewide ranking.

Alice Ott Middle School has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger, compared to Centennial Middle School's 1-star rating. Alice Ott also outperforms Centennial on most academic proficiency measures, including English Language Arts and Mathematics. However, both schools face significant challenges, with high rates of chronic absenteeism that likely impact student learning and achievement.

The socioeconomic challenges faced by these schools, as evidenced by the high free/reduced lunch rates, highlight the need for targeted support and resources to help students succeed. While Alice Ott Middle School receives nearly $4,000 more per student than Centennial Middle School, the performance gap between the two schools suggests that factors beyond just funding may be contributing to the disparity in academic outcomes.