Big Horn County School District #4

The Big Horn County School District #4 in Wyoming consists of two schools: Riverside Middle/High School and Laura Irwin Elementary. The data reveals that Riverside Middle/High School is the standout performer in the district, consistently ranking among the top high schools in the state and maintaining a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger. In contrast, Laura Irwin Elementary has a more average performance, ranking in the middle of Wyoming elementary schools and receiving a 2-star rating in the most recent school year.

Riverside Middle/High School boasts an impressive 81.6% four-year graduation rate and strong test scores, particularly in ELA and Science. The school's spending per student is also significantly higher than Laura Irwin Elementary, at $35,837 compared to $26,587. However, the student-teacher ratios are relatively similar, with Riverside Middle/High School having a slightly lower ratio of 7:1 compared to 8.9:1 at Laura Irwin Elementary.

While Laura Irwin Elementary's test scores are generally above the state average, they do not stand out as strongly as Riverside Middle/High School's. The free and reduced lunch rate is also notably higher at Laura Irwin Elementary, at 55.66% compared to 34.92% at Riverside Middle/High School, which may indicate a higher proportion of students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds at the elementary school. Further investigation into the factors contributing to the performance differences between the two schools, such as curriculum, teaching practices, and school leadership, could help identify best practices that could be replicated across the district.