Summary:
The city of Bussey, Iowa is home to two schools that serve students from elementary through high school - Twin Cedars Elementary School and Twin Cedars Junior-Senior High School, both part of the Twin Cedars Community School District. While the schools have relatively small enrollments, they face challenges in providing a high-quality education, as evidenced by their below-average test scores and rankings compared to state standards.
Both Twin Cedars Elementary and Junior-Senior High School perform below the state averages in most subject areas and grade levels, with 4th grade ELA proficiency at the elementary school reaching only 64% compared to the state average of 72.9%. Additionally, the schools have relatively low rankings within the state, placing in the bottom half of Iowa schools. This suggests the Twin Cedars Community School District may be struggling to adequately support student learning and achievement.
Despite the higher spending per student and lower student-teacher ratios at the junior-senior high school level, these investments do not appear to be translating into better academic outcomes for those students. Furthermore, the schools serve a student population with significant economic disadvantages, with over 40% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. This socioeconomic challenge may be impacting the schools' ability to provide the resources and support needed for their students to thrive.
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