Summary:
The city of Springfield, Vermont has only one middle school, Riverside Middle School, which serves students in grades 6-8. As the sole middle school in the area, it is the primary educational option for families in Springfield. However, the data reveals concerning academic challenges at Riverside Middle School, which is part of the Springfield School District.
Riverside Middle School has a student enrollment of 247 and a relatively low student-teacher ratio of 11:1. However, the school's academic performance is significantly below the state average across all grade levels and subject areas tested, with proficiency rates ranging from just 3.57% in 8th grade math to 42.86% in 7th grade English Language Arts. The school's statewide ranking has declined over the past few years, going from 64th out of 68 Vermont middle schools in 2021-2022 to 71st out of 74 in 2024-2025. Additionally, the school has a high chronic absenteeism rate of 31.7% for the 2023-2024 school year.
The data also reveals that 65.99% of Riverside Middle School's students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a socioeconomically disadvantaged population. Despite the low student-teacher ratio, the school is not translating this resource into improved academic outcomes for students. The challenges facing Riverside Middle School and the broader Springfield School District suggest the need for targeted interventions and support to address the underlying factors contributing to the poor academic performance and high chronic absenteeism rates.
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