Summary:
The 78595 zip code area in Texas is home to two elementary schools, Sam Fordyce Elementary and Rosendo Benavides Elementary, both part of the La Joya Independent School District (ISD). While the schools share similar student demographics and resource profiles, the data analysis reveals a significant performance gap between them.
Sam Fordyce Elementary stands out as the higher-performing school, consistently achieving higher test scores across various STAAR assessments compared to the district and state averages. The school has maintained a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger, indicating strong overall performance, and ranks in the top 30% of Texas elementary schools. In contrast, Rosendo Benavides Elementary has lower test scores and a much lower statewide ranking, placing in the bottom 20% of Texas elementary schools with only a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.
Both schools serve predominantly Hispanic student populations with high rates of economic disadvantage, as evidenced by the high percentages of free/reduced lunch recipients. While the schools have similar resource profiles, with higher-than-average spending per student and lower-than-average student-teacher ratios, the stark contrast in performance suggests that factors beyond just funding and staffing, such as school leadership, teaching practices, and curriculum, may be contributing to the differences in academic achievement. This highlights the need for targeted interventions and support to improve student learning and ensure equitable educational opportunities for all students in the La Joya ISD.
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