Summary:
Challenger Middle is a public middle school located in Lancaster, CA, serving grades 5-8 with a total enrollment of 573 students. It is part of the Wilsona Elementary School District, which is ranked 1518 out of 1568 districts in California and has a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger. Challenger Middle has consistently ranked in the bottom 10-15% of California middle schools over the past several years, with a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger.
Challenger Middle faces significant challenges, including high chronic absenteeism rates, which have risen from 12.1% in 2018-2019 to 39.4% in 2021-2022, much higher than the state average. The school's academic performance, as measured by standardized test scores, is also significantly below state and district averages across all grade levels and subject areas. For example, in 2023-2024, only 15.28% of Challenger Middle students were proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to 47.04% statewide, and in Mathematics, the proficiency rate was just 6.74%, compared to 35.54% statewide. The school's performance is particularly concerning for certain student subgroups, such as African American and Hispanic students, who ranked in the bottom 5% of California middle schools in English Language Arts and Mathematics in 2021-2022.
When comparing Challenger Middle to nearby middle schools, the data reveals a stark contrast in academic performance. For instance, Fulton and Alsbury Academy of Arts and Engineering, located approximately 16 miles from Challenger Middle, ranked in the top 20% of California middle schools in 2023-2024 and had significantly higher proficiency rates in English Language Arts and Mathematics. Challenger Middle's consistently low performance, high chronic absenteeism rates, and significant achievement gaps for certain student subgroups indicate the need for a comprehensive, data-driven approach to school improvement to address the complex issues the school is facing.
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Detail:
Public 5-8
District:
Wilsona Elementary
SchoolDigger Rank:
2673rd of 2,777 California Middle Schools
Per Pupil Expenditures: $6,925
Students who attend Challenger Middle usually attend:
Feeder schools for Challenger Middle:
Student/teacher ratio: 26.0
Number of students: 573
Racial breakdown:
Hispanic:
79.8%
White:
10.5%
African American:
7.0%
more
Two or more races:
1.7%
American Indian:
1.0%
Free/discounted lunch recipients: 97.7%
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