Summary:
The Riverside Elementary District in Arizona is home to two middle schools: Kings Ridge School and Maricopa Institute of Technology (MIT). While both schools face academic challenges compared to state averages, MIT stands out as the stronger performer, with significantly higher proficiency rates in English Language Arts (ELA) for 7th and 8th grades.
MIT has consistently ranked higher among Arizona middle schools in the School Digger rankings, with a 3-star rating, compared to a 1-star rating for Kings Ridge School. Additionally, MIT has a lower dropout rate, with 0.0% in the 2019-2020 school year, compared to 7.2% at Kings Ridge School in 2021-2022. However, both schools have a high percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating potential socioeconomic challenges faced by the student populations.
The stark contrast in academic performance between the two schools suggests that there may be effective practices or strategies in place at MIT that could be worth exploring and potentially replicating at Kings Ridge School. Additionally, the significant difference in student-teacher ratios (19.6 at Kings Ridge School vs. 57 at MIT) may be a contributing factor to the performance gap, as smaller class sizes can often lead to more personalized attention and support for students.
Thank you for your feedback!