Summary:
The Asbury Park School District has only one middle school, Dr. Martin Luther King Junior Middle School, which serves grades 6-8. The school has consistently ranked among the lowest-performing middle schools in New Jersey, with a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger and rankings in the bottom tier for the past several years.
Dr. Martin Luther King Junior Middle School faces significant challenges, including a high chronic absenteeism rate of 16.6% and extremely low academic performance, with only 8.5% of 6th graders proficient or better in English Language Arts, 1% proficient or better in Mathematics, and 0% proficient or better in Science. Despite the school's high per-student spending of $22,456 and a relatively low student-teacher ratio of 8.2 to 1, these factors have not translated into improved academic outcomes for the students.
The school's demographics, with a high percentage of students (58.05%) receiving free or reduced-price lunch, indicate a significant level of economic disadvantage among the student population. Addressing the root causes of the school's poor performance, such as attendance issues and the unique needs of its student population, will be crucial for driving meaningful and sustained improvement in the future.
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