Summary:
The 19081 zip code area in Pennsylvania is home to two elementary schools - Swarthmore-Rutledge School and Grace Park Elementary School. While both schools serve the same general area, their academic performance and overall quality differ significantly.
Swarthmore-Rutledge School stands out as a high-performing institution, consistently ranking among the top elementary schools in Pennsylvania with a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger. The school's test scores are significantly above state and district averages across all subjects and grade levels, with 84.3% of students proficient or better in PSSA Math, compared to 69% for the district and 40.4% for the state. In contrast, Grace Park Elementary School performs below the state and district averages on most metrics, with a 3-star rating and a statewide ranking that has fluctuated between the 600s and 800s out of over 1,500 elementary schools.
The stark performance difference between the two schools within the same zip code is noteworthy. While Swarthmore-Rutledge School spends $18,342 per student, Grace Park Elementary School spends $20,763 per student, suggesting that factors beyond just funding, such as teaching quality, curriculum, and school leadership, may play a crucial role in driving student success. Additionally, the free/reduced lunch rate at Swarthmore-Rutledge School is 7.76%, while it is 36.31% at Grace Park Elementary School, indicating a higher proportion of economically disadvantaged students at the latter school.
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