John F. Kennedy Junior High is a public middle school in West Valley City, Utah, serving 857 students in grades 6-8 and part of the Granite School District.
Despite higher per-student spending than nearby schools, John F. Kennedy Junior High consistently ranks in the bottom 20% of Utah middle schools and significantly underperforms the district and state averages on standardized assessments across all grade levels and subject areas. The school's proficiency rates in 6th grade, for example, were 19.5% in English Language Arts, 12.3% in Math, and 27.4% in Science, compared to state averages of 47.4%, 35.6%, and 56%, respectively.
The school faces significant achievement gaps, particularly for its Hispanic, English Language Learner, and low-income student populations, who rank in the bottom 50% of Utah middle schools. With a high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 63.23% to 70.51%, and a relatively high student-teacher ratio, the data suggests the school may need to implement targeted interventions and support programs to address these disparities and utilize resources more effectively.
Granite District
Students at John F. Kennedy Junior High are 45% Hispanic, 38% White, 6% Pacific Islander, 5% African American, 4% Two or more races, 2% Asian, 1% American Indian.
In the 2023-24 school year, 833 students attended John F. Kennedy Junior High.
John F. Kennedy Junior High ranks in the bottom 3.3% of Utah middle schools.
Students who attend John F. Kennedy Junior High usually go on to attend Hunter High