Middle Schools in Newton

The two middle schools located in Newton, Kansas - Chisholm Middle School and Santa Fe 5/6 Center - are both performing below the state averages on various academic measures. While the schools have relatively low student-teacher ratios, they face significant challenges in effectively educating their student populations, which have high rates of economic disadvantage.

Both Chisholm Middle School and Santa Fe 5/6 Center have consistently lower proficiency rates compared to the Newton district and Kansas state averages in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science. The largest gaps are seen in Mathematics, where both schools have proficiency rates around 10-15%, compared to the state average of over 30%. Additionally, the schools have high free and reduced lunch rates, around 57-58%, indicating a significant population of economically disadvantaged students.

The relatively low spending per student at both schools, compared to the state average, may be a contributing factor to their academic struggles. Addressing the socioeconomic and resource-related factors that may be contributing to the low performance should be a priority for the district and community. Targeted interventions and support, such as professional development for teachers, academic support programs, and community engagement initiatives, may help to improve student outcomes at these middle schools.