Summary:
The Upper Darby School District in Pennsylvania serves four schools: three elementary schools (Highland Park Elementary, Bywood Elementary, and Stonehurst Hills Elementary) and one middle school (Beverly Hills Middle School). This district faces significant academic challenges, with student performance well below state averages across key metrics.
Highland Park Elementary stands out as the top-performing school in the district, with the highest proficiency rates in PSSA Math, English Language Arts, and Science compared to the other schools. In contrast, the three elementary schools have consistently been ranked in the bottom quartile of Pennsylvania elementary schools over the past three years, indicating a need for substantial improvement efforts.
The district serves a predominantly low-income student population, with all four schools having extremely high free/reduced lunch rates, ranging from 99.93% to 100%. This high-poverty student demographic likely presents unique challenges and resource needs for the schools. Additionally, the variation in per-student spending, with Stonehurst Hills Elementary spending significantly more than the other schools, may suggest funding inequities within the Upper Darby School District that could be contributing to the performance gaps.
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