Summary:
The Forest Area Community Schools district in Michigan has only one middle school, Forest Area Middle School, which serves students in grades 6-8. The school faces several challenges, including consistently low academic performance, high chronic absenteeism, and a predominantly economically disadvantaged student population.
Forest Area Middle School's academic performance, as measured by state assessments, is well below the Michigan averages across various grade levels and subject areas. For example, the school's proficiency rates in English Language Arts and Mathematics range from 8% to 36%, compared to the state averages of 37% to 44% and 32% to 39%, respectively. The school's performance in Science and Social Studies also lags behind the state. Additionally, the school's statewide ranking has declined over the past three years, from 466 out of 776 Michigan middle schools to 779 out of 897, and its SchoolDigger rating remains at 1 or 2 stars out of 5.
Addressing the high chronic absenteeism rate of 38.1% and the socioeconomic challenges faced by the school's predominantly economically disadvantaged student population (62.74% eligible for free or reduced-price lunch) will be crucial for improving overall student engagement and academic achievement. The school's per-student spending of $12,814 and a student-to-teacher ratio of 19.2 to 1 suggest that the district is allocating resources to support the school, but the outcomes indicate a need for more targeted interventions and support to address the underlying issues and improve student outcomes.
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