Summary:
The city of Laurens, South Carolina is home to 6 schools serving students from elementary through high school, including 3 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high school. The schools in the Laurens 55 district face significant challenges, with consistently low academic performance across the board and high levels of economic disadvantage among the student population.
Among the standout schools, Ford Elementary has the lowest performance, with the lowest test scores and a 0-star rating, while Sanders Middle has the highest test scores and performance among the middle schools. The only high school, Laurens District 55 High, has a diverse student population but its performance is below the state average, with only 1 out of 5 stars from SchoolDigger.
Across the district, the schools struggle with low test scores, with many scoring below 40% proficiency in core subjects. This is despite relatively low student-teacher ratios and high spending per student, suggesting that factors beyond just funding and staffing may be at play. The district also faces challenges with racial disparities and high rates of economic disadvantage, with all schools having 100% of their students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. While the current performance is concerning, the data also highlights areas of relative strength, such as Laurens District 55 High's performance on the English 2 End of Course exam, which could inform strategies for improving outcomes across the district.
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