Summary:
The 97862 zip code area is home to 4 schools in the Milton-Freewater Unified School District 7, including 2 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 1 high school. While these schools serve a high-need student population, with 72-79% of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, their academic performance lags behind state averages across the board.
Gib Olinger Elementary School stands out as the largest school in the area with 478 students, but its test scores are on par with the district average and below the state in English Language Arts and Mathematics. In contrast, Ferndale Elementary School has the lowest enrollment at 231 students and the second-highest percentage of free/reduced lunch recipients, with test scores well below the district and state averages.
Across all schools, per-student spending is relatively high, ranging from $16,394 to $19,228, likely due to the high-need student population. However, this investment has not translated to improved academic outcomes, as proficiency rates in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science are significantly lower than state averages. Additionally, the statewide rankings for McLoughlin High School and Central Middle School have been declining over the past three years, indicating a systemic issue that needs to be addressed by the district.
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