Summary:
The 05158 zip code area is home to a single elementary school, Westminster Schools, which serves students from pre-kindergarten through 6th grade. While this small school benefits from a low student-teacher ratio, it faces significant challenges, including underperformance in academic subjects, high chronic absenteeism, and a student population with a high rate of economic disadvantage.
Westminster Schools has consistently ranked between 66-116 out of all Vermont elementary schools over the past three years, earning a 2-3 star rating from School Digger. In the 2024-2025 school year, only 43.75% of 4th graders were proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to a 61% statewide average, and just 25% were proficient or better in Mathematics, compared to a 34.25% statewide average. Additionally, the school's chronic absenteeism rate of 22.4% is more than double the typical benchmark, which can have a significant impact on student learning.
Further compounding these academic challenges, 50.3% of students at Westminster Schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high level of economic disadvantage among the student population. The school's reported $0 per student spending in the 2018-2019 school year also raises concerns about the level of funding and resources available to support the educational needs of its students. While the small size of the school, with only 169 students enrolled, may allow for more individualized attention, addressing the broader issues of academic performance, attendance, and socioeconomic factors will be crucial for improving the overall quality of education at Westminster Schools.
Thank you for your feedback!