Summary:
The Harrisburg City School District in Pennsylvania is home to 4 middle schools, serving students in grades 6-8. While the district faces challenges with high poverty levels, one school, Marshall Math Science Academy, stands out as a clear academic leader among the middle schools in the area.
Marshall Math Science Academy significantly outperforms the district and state averages on PSSA tests, with 50.6% of students proficient or better in English Language Arts and 17.4% proficient or better in math, compared to just 15.6% and 5.7% respectively for the district. The school also earns a 2-out-of-5-star rating from SchoolDigger, the highest in the district. In contrast, the other 3 middle schools - Rowland Academy, Camp Curtin Academy, and Marshall Academy - all receive 0-star ratings, indicating persistent challenges in improving academic outcomes.
The data also reveals significant disparities in resource allocation, with spending per student ranging from $19,818 at Rowland Academy to $30,952 at Marshall Academy. Additionally, all 4 middle schools in the Harrisburg City School District have extremely high rates of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, indicating high levels of poverty in the area. These findings suggest the need for the district to address the performance gaps between its middle schools and ensure more equitable distribution of resources to support student success.
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