Summary:
The city of West Newton, Indiana is home to a single public elementary school, West Newton Elementary School, which serves grades K-6 with a total enrollment of 597 students. The school has a diverse student population, with a mix of White, African American, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, and multi-racial students. However, the school's academic performance, as measured by standardized test scores, is significantly below the district and state averages across all grade levels and subject areas.
West Newton Elementary School's proficiency rates on the ILEARN assessments lag behind the district and state in both English Language Arts and Math. For example, in 3rd grade ELA, the school had a 25.71% proficiency rate, compared to 20.28% for the district and 38.6% for the state. Similarly, in 5th grade Math, the school's proficiency rate was 34.83%, compared to 23.67% for the district and 40.8% for the state. The school also struggles with a high chronic absenteeism rate of 13.2%, which can negatively impact student learning and achievement.
Despite the school's diverse student population and typical funding levels, with a per-student spending of $10,453 and a student-teacher ratio of 16.3 to 1, West Newton Elementary School has been consistently ranked in the bottom third of Indiana elementary schools by SchoolDigger, with a 1-star rating out of 5 for the 2023-2024 school year. This persistent underperformance suggests that the MSD Decatur Township district may need to implement targeted interventions and support to help improve the academic outcomes for students at West Newton Elementary School.
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