Summary:
The Star International Academy district in Michigan operates two public charter schools: an alternative school serving grades PK-12 with 1,698 students, and an elementary school serving grades PK-8 with 230 students. While the alternative school boasts an impressive 100% four-year graduation rate and 0% dropout rate, the elementary school generally outperforms the alternative school on academic assessments, particularly in English Language Arts and Math.
The alternative school serves a higher percentage of economically disadvantaged students (92.23% receive free or reduced-price lunch) compared to the elementary school (77.83%). However, the elementary school's academic performance is stronger, suggesting that factors beyond just socioeconomic status may be contributing to the differences in outcomes between the two schools. Both schools have relatively high chronic absenteeism rates, with the elementary school's rate (36.8%) being significantly higher than the alternative school's (26.7%).
In terms of funding, the alternative school spends $12,062 per student, while the elementary school spends $9,397 per student. The alternative school also has a higher student-teacher ratio of 19.8, compared to the elementary school's ratio of 16.7. These differences in resource allocation and staffing ratios may play a role in the contrasting academic performance between the two schools, raising questions about the efficient use of resources and the factors that contribute to effective educational outcomes.
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