Summary:
Verona Elementary School is a public elementary school serving grades 3-5 in Battle Creek Public Schools, a district ranked 575 out of 610 in Michigan with a 0-star rating. With a student population of 222, Verona has a diverse racial makeup, including 26.13% White, 40.09% African American, 14.41% Hispanic, and 19.37% two or more races.
Verona Elementary faces significant challenges, including consistently high chronic absenteeism rates ranging from 39.2% to 62.0% over the past 5 years, far exceeding the 11.7% to 57.5% range of nearby schools like Wattles Park Elementary School and Pennfield Dunlap Elementary. Additionally, the school's academic performance, as measured by M-Step proficiency rates, is alarmingly low, with only 9.43% of 3rd graders and 11.7% of 5th graders proficient in English Language Arts, compared to state averages of 39.6% and 44%, respectively.
Verona Elementary's struggles extend to its student group performance, ranking in the bottom 10% of Michigan elementary schools for African American, Hispanic, and multi-racial students in 2017-2018. Despite relatively high per-student spending of $19,634 in 2022-2023, the school's academic outcomes have not improved, raising questions about the effective use of resources. Addressing Verona's challenges, including chronic absenteeism, racial disparities, and ineffective resource allocation, will require a comprehensive, data-driven approach in collaboration with the district and community stakeholders.
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