Summary:
The city of Vandalia, Missouri is home to two schools: Van-Far Elementary and Van-Far Junior/Senior High, both part of the Van-Far R-I school district. While Van-Far Elementary has seen strong math proficiency rates, the junior/senior high school has experienced a significant decline in its statewide ranking over the years, raising concerns about its overall academic performance.
Van-Far Elementary stands out for its impressive 72.2% math proficiency rate among 3rd graders, far exceeding the state average of 41.1%. However, the school's overall statewide ranking remains relatively low, suggesting there may be room for improvement in other academic areas. In contrast, Van-Far Junior/Senior High has seen a concerning drop in its statewide ranking, plummeting from 55th out of 468 Missouri high schools in 2017-2018 to 259th out of 352 in 2022-2023, a sharp decline that warrants further investigation.
Both schools serve a majority white student population and have relatively high free/reduced lunch rates, exceeding 50%, indicating a significant population of economically disadvantaged students. While the student-teacher ratios are relatively low, at 13.9 for Van-Far Elementary and 11.1 for Van-Far Junior/Senior High, the academic performance at the junior/senior high level suggests this may not be translating into strong outcomes. Overall, the data highlights both strengths and areas of concern for the schools in Vandalia, Missouri, underscoring the need for continued monitoring and targeted support to ensure all students have access to a high-quality education.
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