Summary:
The city of Gowanda, New York is home to three schools that serve students from elementary through high school: Gowanda Elementary School, Gowanda Middle School, and Gowanda High School. These schools, part of the Gowanda Central School District, serve a diverse student population with a significant Native American representation, ranging from 21.53% to 23.8% across the three schools.
Among the standout schools, Gowanda High School ranks 396 out of 1,228 New York high schools, the highest ranking in the district, and boasts a 90.3% 4-year graduation rate. Gowanda Middle School outperforms the district and state averages in several subject areas on the New York State Assessments, including an impressive 69.23% proficiency rate in 8th grade Science compared to the 47.41% statewide average. However, the schools generally underperform the state averages on these assessments, with proficiency rates often 10-15 percentage points below the state level, suggesting a need for targeted interventions to improve academic outcomes.
The high rates of free and reduced-price lunch recipients, ranging from 51.39% to 65.28%, indicate a significant level of economic disadvantage among the student populations. This factor may contribute to the academic performance gaps observed across the schools. Despite the higher spending per student at the high school level ($24,545), the middle school outperforms the high school on several state assessments, underscoring the importance of factors beyond just funding, such as instructional quality, school leadership, and targeted interventions, in driving student success.
Thank you for your feedback!