Summary:
The Plainwell Community Schools district in Michigan is home to three elementary schools serving students from kindergarten through 5th grade. The data analysis reveals that Gilkey Elementary School is the standout performer, consistently outpacing its peers on key academic metrics such as test scores and proficiency rates. However, the district as a whole faces challenges, including high chronic absenteeism rates and socioeconomic disparities that may be impacting student performance.
Gilkey Elementary boasts the highest overall test scores and proficiency rates across various subjects and grade levels, with 5th-grade students achieving 67.3% proficiency in English Language Arts and 60% in Math. In contrast, Cooper Elementary stands out for its low chronic absenteeism rate of 16.8%, the lowest among the three schools, and its relatively higher socioeconomic status, with only 30.5% of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch.
While the data highlights the strengths of individual schools, it also reveals areas for improvement across the district. The high chronic absenteeism rates, particularly at Starr Elementary (23.5%) and Gilkey Elementary (24.7%), are concerning and may be contributing to the performance gaps observed. Additionally, the analysis suggests that socioeconomic factors play a role in academic outcomes, with the schools serving a higher percentage of economically disadvantaged students generally performing worse than their counterparts.
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