Summary:
The city of Tower, Minnesota is home to two schools: Tower-Soudan Elementary, serving grades PK-6, and Vermilion Country School, serving grades 7-12. These schools face unique challenges, including socioeconomic disadvantages and academic performance gaps compared to state averages.
Tower-Soudan Elementary has a relatively high percentage of Native American students (30.3%) and a significant population of economically disadvantaged students, with a 71.72% free/reduced lunch rate. While the school has a low student-teacher ratio of 9.5, its academic performance on MCA-III math and reading tests is below state and district averages. In contrast, Vermilion Country School has a higher percentage of White students (71.74%) and a significantly higher student-teacher ratio of 24.3, which could be a potential area of concern. The high school's academic performance is also well below state averages, with only 12% and 41.67% of students proficient or better in math and reading, respectively.
Despite the challenges faced by these schools, there are some notable data points. Vermilion Country School has a 75.0% four-year graduation rate and an 8.3% dropout rate, which warrant further investigation to understand the underlying factors. The diversity of the student populations in these schools, particularly the higher percentage of Native American students at Tower-Soudan Elementary, could present both opportunities and challenges in meeting the unique needs of different student groups. Addressing the socioeconomic and academic performance gaps in these schools will be crucial for improving educational outcomes in the St. Louis County School District and the Vermilion Country School district.
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