Summary:
The city of Rocky Ford, Colorado is home to 3 schools serving students from elementary through high school, including 2 elementary schools and 1 junior/senior high school. The data reveals a district facing significant challenges, with low academic performance, high rates of economic disadvantage, and persistent underperformance at the high school level. However, there are also signs of promise, such as the stronger performance at Jefferson Intermediate School.
The district's high schools, such as Rocky Ford Junior/Senior High School, consistently rank in the bottom quarter of Colorado high schools and struggle with test scores well below state averages. In contrast, Jefferson Intermediate School outperforms the district and state in several CMAS ELA assessments, despite serving a high-need student population with over 77% Hispanic students and 83% receiving free or reduced-price lunch.
Across the district, all three schools have very high percentages of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 71% to 83%, indicating widespread economic challenges in the community. This socioeconomic factor likely contributes to the academic struggles observed, and the Rocky Ford School District No. R2 may need to explore additional resources and support for these students. However, the differences in performance suggest an opportunity for the district to identify and share successful strategies from the higher-performing schools with the lower-performing ones, which could help raise the overall academic achievement across the district.
Thank you for your feedback!