Summary:
Gillingham Charter School is an alternative public charter school located in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, serving 247 students in grades K-12. As a charter school, it operates independently from the traditional public school district, allowing for more flexibility in curriculum and teaching methods.
Gillingham Charter School has shown strong graduation rates, with a 4-year graduation rate of 87.5% in the 2022-2023 school year, which is higher than the state average. The school has also maintained a relatively low dropout rate, ranging from 1.6% to 1.8% in recent years, lower than the state average. However, the school's test scores, particularly in PSSA Math and English Language Arts, are generally lower than the state averages. Interestingly, the school performs better in PSSA Science, with 42.3% of students proficient or better in 2023-2024, compared to the state average of 65.8%. The school has an exceptionally high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 98.7% to 100% in recent years, indicating a high concentration of economically disadvantaged students. The school's spending per student has increased over the years, from $16,351 in 2019-2020 to $18,274 in 2021-2022, suggesting a focus on resource allocation. The student-teacher ratio at Gillingham Charter School has fluctuated, ranging from 8.5 to 12.3 students per teacher in recent years, which is lower than the state average.
The school's graduation rates have been relatively stable, with a slight increase from 87.0% in 2021-2022 to 87.5% in 2022-2023, suggesting that the school is effectively supporting its students in completing their high school education. However, the school's test scores are significantly lower than the state averages, particularly in PSSA Math, indicating a need for improvement in math instruction and support. The high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch suggests that Gillingham Charter School serves a predominantly economically disadvantaged population, which may contribute to the lower test scores. The increasing spending per student may indicate a focus on providing additional resources and support, but the lower test scores suggest that the school may need to evaluate the effectiveness of its resource allocation and instructional strategies. The relatively low student-teacher ratio could be an advantage, as it allows for more individualized attention and support for students, which may be particularly beneficial for the school's economically disadvantaged population.
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