Summary:
The city of Homestead, Pennsylvania is home to two schools: Propel Cs-Homestead, an alternative public charter school serving grades K-12, and Barrett Elementary School, a public elementary school serving grades K-4. Both schools serve economically disadvantaged student populations, with very high free/reduced lunch rates.
Propel Cs-Homestead has a relatively high 4-year graduation rate of 87.5% and a low dropout rate of 1.6%, but its students perform significantly below the state average on standardized tests. In contrast, Barrett Elementary School, while part of the lower-performing Steel Valley School District, is managing to achieve proficiency rates closer to the state averages, particularly in English Language Arts.
The data highlights the complex challenges facing schools in economically disadvantaged areas, such as Homestead. While Propel Cs-Homestead spends more per student and has smaller class sizes, these factors do not appear to be translating into better academic outcomes. This raises questions about the efficient use of resources and the factors that contribute to student success in these communities.
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