Summary:
The city of Gadsden, Alabama is home to 16 schools serving students from elementary through high school, including 10 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, 2 high schools, and 1 alternative school. The schools in this district display a wide range of performance, with some standout high-performing schools like Eura Brown Elementary School and Gaston Elementary School ranking among the top in the state, while others like W.E. Striplin Elementary and Adams Elementary struggle with low test scores and rankings.
Across the Gadsden City school district, there are significant disparities in student performance and school funding. While Gadsden City High School students perform below the state average in core subjects, the top elementary schools have exceptional test scores with 70-90% of students proficient. This variation is likely driven in part by the wide range in per-student spending, from $7,023 at Gaston Elementary to $14,976 at Litchfield Middle School.
The data also reveals concerning racial and socioeconomic disparities, with many schools serving predominantly minority and economically disadvantaged student populations. Schools with the highest rates of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch tend to have the lowest test scores and rankings, suggesting a strong link between poverty and academic achievement. Addressing these equity issues will be crucial for improving overall performance across the Etowah County school district.
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