Summary:
The 52302 zip code area is home to 15 schools, including 8 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, and 2 high schools, which are part of the Linn-Mar Community School District and the Marion Independent School District. The data reveals a significant disparity in school performance, with the Linn-Mar schools consistently outperforming the Marion schools on various metrics, including test scores, school rankings, and free/reduced lunch rates.
The Echo Hill Elementary and Excelsior Middle School, both part of the Linn-Mar district, stand out as high-performing schools, ranking 18th and 62nd in the state, respectively. These schools boast impressive test scores, with over 85% of students proficient or better in English Language Arts, and low free/reduced lunch rates, indicating a more affluent student population. In contrast, the Marion High School and Vernon Middle School have more mixed results, with some schools performing above the state average and others below.
The data also suggests that factors beyond just funding, such as resource allocation and school leadership, may play a significant role in driving student success. The similar per-student spending across the districts highlights the importance of these other factors. The disparity in school performance presents an opportunity for the Linn-Mar and Marion districts to collaborate and share best practices, potentially helping to improve the performance of the lower-performing schools.
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