Summary:
The city of Dongola, Illinois is home to three public schools serving grades K-12: Dongola Elementary School, Dongola High School, and Dongola Junior High School. Unfortunately, the data shows that all three schools are performing well below average compared to state-level metrics, with consistently low test scores, high chronic absenteeism, and low statewide rankings.
None of the Dongola schools stand out as clear academic performers. Dongola Elementary School has very low test proficiency rates, with only 20% proficient or better in ELA and 7.1-24% in Math. Dongola High School fares slightly better with an impressive 100% 4-year graduation rate, but only 18.2% proficient in ELA and 9.1% in Math on the SAT. Dongola Junior High School has slightly higher ELA scores at 28.6% proficient, but dismal Math scores of 0-7.7% proficient. All three schools are ranked in the bottom half of their respective school types statewide.
The data suggests systemic challenges within the Dongola Unified School District 66 that need to be addressed. The schools serve a very high-poverty student population, with 72-96% of students qualifying for free/reduced lunch. This likely contributes to the high chronic absenteeism rates, which can further hinder academic progress. With small school sizes, especially at the junior high and high school levels, the district may lack the resources and programming to effectively support its students. Targeted investments and evidence-based strategies will be crucial to help these Dongola schools make meaningful progress.
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