Summary:
The Bessemer Area School District is home to two schools - Washington School, an elementary school, and AD Johnston Jr-Sr High School. While AD Johnston Jr-Sr High School appears to be a strong performer, with high graduation rates and academic achievement, Washington Elementary School is struggling in several areas.
AD Johnston Jr-Sr High School stands out with an impressive 92.8% four-year graduation rate and a 0% dropout rate, both significantly better than state averages. The school also outperforms the state on several academic metrics, including 7th grade ELA and 11th grade science proficiency. In contrast, Washington Elementary School has a concerning 37.3% chronic absenteeism rate, well above the state average, and underperforms the state on many M-STEP proficiency measures, particularly in math.
The data suggests that factors beyond just funding, such as attendance and targeted interventions, may be contributing to the performance gap between the two schools. Additionally, the racial makeup of the schools, with both having a majority white student population, warrants further exploration of potential equity and access issues. Overall, the Bessemer Area School District presents a mixed picture, with one school excelling and the other struggling, highlighting the need for a closer examination of the factors driving student outcomes across the district.
Thank you for your feedback!