High Schools in Gardner

The Gardner school district in Massachusetts is home to two high schools: Gardner High and Gardner Academy for Learning and Technology. Gardner High is the larger and more established of the two, with 804 students compared to 108 at Gardner Academy. However, Gardner Academy has a significantly higher student-teacher ratio, which could indicate smaller class sizes and more individualized attention for students.

Academically, Gardner High's MCAS proficiency rates in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science are consistently lower than the state averages, with the largest gaps in Mathematics and Science. Gardner Academy for Learning and Technology has even lower MCAS proficiency rates compared to Gardner High, particularly in Mathematics. Additionally, Gardner High has an impressive 96.9% four-year graduation rate, well above the 68.6% rate at Gardner Academy, which also has a concerning 11.8% dropout rate, more than four times the 2.4% rate at Gardner High.

Both schools have similar per-student spending, but the higher student-teacher ratio at Gardner Academy suggests it may have fewer resources per student. These findings indicate that while Gardner High is the larger and more established high school in the area, both schools face challenges in supporting and educating their students, with Gardner Academy potentially facing more significant obstacles. Further analysis and collaboration with school administrators and community stakeholders could help identify strategies to enhance educational outcomes for all students in the Gardner school district.