Summary:
The New Kensington-Arnold School District in Pennsylvania is home to three elementary schools serving students from pre-kindergarten through 6th grade. While the schools share similar challenges, they each have unique characteristics that set them apart.
Roy A. Hunt Elementary School stands out as the largest, with 607 students, and the highest spending per student at $17,069. Despite its higher funding, Roy A. Hunt's test scores remain below state averages, though they are generally higher than the district's overall performance. Berkey School, serving 1st and 2nd graders, has the second-highest spending per student at $15,995 and the lowest student-teacher ratio of 11.3. In contrast, Martin School, the smallest with 153 pre-K and kindergarten students, has the lowest spending per student at $13,782 and the highest student-teacher ratio of 13.9.
A common challenge across all three schools is the consistently low academic performance, with test scores significantly below state averages. Additionally, the district-wide PSSA scores lag behind the state, indicating a broader issue in the New Kensington-Arnold School District. Another notable factor is the extremely high rates of free and reduced lunch recipients, ranging from 99.35% to 100%, suggesting a high level of economic disadvantage among the student populations. While the variation in spending per student does not directly correlate with academic outcomes, these socioeconomic factors likely play a significant role in the schools' performance and warrant further investigation and targeted interventions to improve educational opportunities for the district's students.
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