Summary:
The Bethel School District in Washington is home to 6 middle schools serving grades 6-8. These schools vary in their academic performance, with Spanaway Middle School and Cougar Mountain Middle School standing out as the top-performing schools in the district based on test scores and statewide rankings.
Spanaway Middle School ranks the highest among the Bethel middle schools, achieving the best proficiency rates in English Language Arts and Math. However, it also has the highest percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a higher proportion of economically disadvantaged students. In contrast, Cougar Mountain Middle School has the second-highest ranking and the highest proficiency rates in English Language Arts and Science, while also having the lowest percentage of free and reduced-price lunch recipients among the Bethel middle schools.
The data reveals significant disparities in academic performance across the Bethel middle schools, with Cedarcrest Middle School lagging behind the others in proficiency rates. The relationship between socioeconomic status and academic performance is evident, as schools with higher percentages of free and reduced-price lunch recipients tend to have lower proficiency rates. While the Bethel middle schools have similar spending per student, the variation in outcomes suggests that factors beyond just funding, such as school leadership, teaching quality, and student demographics, play a significant role in driving academic success.
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