Summary:
The 98851 zip code in Washington is home to two underperforming schools, Soap Lake Middle & High School and Soap Lake Elementary, both serving students in the Soap Lake School District. These schools consistently rank in the bottom 10-20% of schools in the state, with significant challenges in student achievement and economic disadvantage.
Across both schools, test scores in English Language Arts and Math are alarmingly low, with proficiency rates well below the state average. For example, at Soap Lake Middle & High School, only 18.49% of students were proficient or better in ELA, compared to the state average of 52.63%. In Math, the proficiency rate was just 9.4%, far behind the state's 41.68%. Similarly, Soap Lake Elementary had only 19.59% of students proficient in ELA and 10.27% in Math. These dismal academic outcomes are coupled with high dropout rates, with Soap Lake Middle & High School reporting a 12.7% dropout rate.
The schools also serve a community with significant economic challenges, as evidenced by the high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, over 89% at both schools. Despite similar spending per student and student-teacher ratios between the two schools, the data suggests that factors beyond just funding and staffing may be contributing to the poor performance. Addressing the root causes of the low academic achievement and high rates of economic disadvantage will be crucial for improving outcomes for students in this area.
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