Summary:
The Upper Rio Grande School District C-7 in Colorado operates two schools: Del Norte Elementary School and Del Norte High Junior/Senior High School. While the high school is a standout performer, the elementary school appears to be struggling, with significantly lower test scores across various subjects and grade levels compared to the high school and state averages.
The Del Norte High Junior/Senior High School stands out as the stronger performing school in the district, with higher test scores in CMAS English Language Arts, SAT, and PSAT assessments compared to the Del Norte Elementary School and the state averages. In contrast, the elementary school lags behind, with only 12.5% of 5th graders proficient or better in CMAS Science, compared to 24.3% at the high school and 37.9% statewide.
The district serves a predominantly Hispanic student population, with over 50% of students identifying as Hispanic at both schools. Additionally, the schools have relatively high free and reduced lunch rates, indicating that they serve a socioeconomically disadvantaged community. The similar student-teacher ratios between the two schools suggest that class size alone may not be the primary driver of the performance differences, and the district should examine other factors, such as curriculum, teaching quality, and school leadership, to identify areas for improvement and ensure that all students in the Upper Rio Grande School District C-7 have access to a high-quality education.
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