Summary:
The Gulfport School District in Mississippi is home to two middle schools, Bayou View Middle School and Gulfport Central Middle School, both serving grades 6-8. Based on the data analysis, Bayou View Middle School emerges as the standout performer, consistently ranking higher than Gulfport Central in statewide assessments and achieving significantly better academic outcomes despite spending less per student.
Bayou View Middle School boasts a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger, placing it in the top 15% of Mississippi middle schools, and outperforms the district and state averages on MAAP (Mississippi Academic Assessment Program) test scores across all grade levels and subject areas. For instance, in the 2023-2024 school year, 57.5% of Bayou View's 6th graders were proficient or better in ELA, compared to 48.1% for the district and 39.7% for the state. Additionally, Bayou View Middle School has a more diverse student population, with 46% White, 37.41% African American, and 11.26% Hispanic students, in contrast to Gulfport Central's predominantly African American student body.
While both schools serve a high-needs population with 100% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, Bayou View Middle School spends $7,739 per student, compared to Gulfport Central's $9,031 per student. This suggests that factors beyond just funding, such as instructional practices, school leadership, and resource allocation, play a crucial role in student success. Understanding the factors that contribute to Bayou View's outstanding performance could provide valuable insights for improving educational outcomes across the Gulfport School District.
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