Summary:
The city of Dawson Springs, Kentucky is home to two schools - Dawson Springs Elementary and Dawson Springs Junior/Senior High School, both part of the Dawson Springs Independent school district. While the high school is a standout performer, consistently ranking among the top in the state, the elementary school has struggled, ranking in the bottom half of Kentucky elementary schools.
Dawson Springs Junior/Senior High School boasts impressive academic achievements, with students outperforming state and district averages on standardized tests, particularly in English. The school has earned a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger for the 2023-2024 school year and a 4-star rating the previous year, along with a remarkable 97.1% four-year graduation rate. In contrast, Dawson Springs Elementary lags behind, with proficiency rates around 20-45% on state assessments, compared to the state average of 46-50% in reading.
Both schools face challenges related to high poverty rates, with free and reduced-price lunch rates of over 60%. However, the district appears to be allocating resources effectively, with higher-than-average spending per student and low student-teacher ratios at both schools. This suggests that the issue may not be a lack of funding, but rather how those resources are being utilized to address the specific needs of the community. The data provides an opportunity for the district to closely examine the factors contributing to the elementary school's underperformance and implement targeted strategies to improve student outcomes.
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