Summary:
The Allentown City School District in Pennsylvania is home to 4 middle schools that serve students in grades 6-8. Overall, the academic performance of these schools is concerning, with all 4 middle schools - South Mountain Middle School, Francis D Raub Middle School, Trexler Middle School, and Harrison-Morton Middle School - performing well below state averages on key metrics like proficiency rates in math and English language arts.
The proficiency rates at these middle schools are strikingly low, ranging from just 3.7% to 10.8% in math and 12.6% to 18.5% in English language arts, compared to the Pennsylvania state averages of 41.7% and 48.5% respectively. Additionally, the schools have higher-than-average dropout rates and extremely high rates of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating significant economic disadvantages among the student populations.
Despite the low academic performance, the Allentown City School District is spending relatively high amounts per student, ranging from $17,311 to $21,726 per student in 2022-2023, and maintaining relatively low student-teacher ratios of 12.5 to 15.3. This suggests that the issue may not be a lack of resources, but rather how those resources are being utilized and targeted to support student learning. Addressing the systemic challenges facing the district will be crucial for improving outcomes for students in these middle schools.
Thank you for your feedback!