Summary:
The Cheney School District in Washington serves about 5,260 students across 12 schools in Cheney, Airway Heights, and Spokane, ranging from elementary to high school and alternative programs, though it ranks in the lower-middle tier of state districts.
Performance varies widely between schools. Windsor Elementary stands out as the district's top performer, with strong test scores in all subjects, while Cheney High School shows impressive improvement and an excellent 94% graduation rate. In contrast, Sunset Elementary faces significant academic challenges despite having high per-student funding and a low student-teacher ratio. The alternative HomeWorks program achieves good results with very low spending but an unusually high student-teacher ratio.
Key district takeaways include a strength in graduating students that doesn't always match proficiency in core subjects like math, and no clear link between higher spending and better outcomes. A notable pattern is a drop in math scores in 5th grade across several elementary schools, suggesting a specific area for district-wide focus. The smaller high schools, like Three Springs High School, serve high-need populations and have lower graduation rates, highlighting the range of student experiences within the district.
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