Summary:
Countryside Academy MiddleHigh School is an alternative public charter school located in Benton Harbor, Michigan, serving grades 2-12 with a total enrollment of 352 students. The school has a diverse student population, with a racial makeup of 11.65% White, 52.27% African American, and 33.24% Hispanic.
Countryside Academy faces significant challenges in terms of student academic performance, attendance, and graduation rates. The school's four-year graduation rates have fluctuated, ranging from a high of 92% in 2018-2019 to a low of 59.3% in 2021-2022, which is lower than the state average. The school's dropout rates have also varied, from 0% to 28.1%, notably higher than the state average. Chronic absenteeism is a persistent issue, with rates ranging from 26.2% to 30.1%, well above the state average. Proficiency rates on state assessments are significantly lower than the state averages across all grade levels and subject areas, with the school's 6th-grade English Language Arts proficiency rate at 21.3% compared to the state average of 37.5%. The school serves a high percentage of economically disadvantaged students, with 85.93% to 87.25% eligible for free or reduced-price lunch over the past three years.
When compared to nearby alternative schools, such as Buchanan Virtual Academy and Berrien Springs Virtual Academy, Countryside Academy faces unique challenges, as these schools have higher graduation rates and lower dropout rates despite serving similar student populations. Countryside Academy has seen a steady increase in its per-student spending, from $7,785 in 2019-2020 to $12,129 in 2022-2023, suggesting that the school is investing more resources in its students, but the academic outcomes do not yet reflect a commensurate improvement.
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