Summary:
The 38469 zip code area is home to two schools - South Lawrence Elementary and Loretto High School. South Lawrence Elementary stands out as the top-performing school in the area, consistently ranking in the top 30-31% of Tennessee elementary schools and earning 4 out of 5 stars from SchoolDigger. The school's math and science proficiency rates exceed the Lawrence County and state averages, and it also outperforms the county and state in English Language Arts. With a relatively low student-teacher ratio of 14.5, South Lawrence Elementary appears to be providing a high-quality education to its predominantly White student population.
In contrast, Loretto High School has seen a decline in its statewide ranking over the past 3 years, dropping from 4 stars to 2 stars. The school's test scores are more mixed, with some subjects and grade levels performing above the county and state averages, while others lag behind. Loretto High School has a slightly more diverse student body, with 94.52% White, 2.03% African American, and 2.43% Hispanic students. Both schools have relatively high free/reduced lunch rates, indicating that a significant portion of the student population comes from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
The similar per-student spending levels between the two schools suggest that funding alone may not be the primary driver of their academic outcomes. Other factors, such as teaching quality, curriculum, and school leadership, likely play a crucial role in shaping the schools' performance. Further investigation may be needed to understand the factors contributing to Loretto High School's declining ranking and identify areas for improvement, while also exploring the reasons behind South Lawrence Elementary's strong academic performance.
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