Compare Blalack Middle School with Polk Middle School

Blalack Middle School earned a State accountability rating of B (80-89) based on three domains: student achievement, school progress and closing the gaps. Scores are scaled from 0 to 100 to align with letter grades. The school scored 85 in student achievement, 86 in school progress and 87 in closing performance gaps. It scored 86 overall in post-secondary readiness, a broad term that refers to student preparedness to undertake multiple pathways after graduation, or specifically, their preparedness for college education.

On the other hand, Polk Middle School also earned a State accountability rating of B. The school posted 73 in student achievement, 81 in school progress, 76 in closing performance gaps and 80 overall in post-secondary readiness.

A distinction designation acknowledges districts and campuses for outstanding achievement based on the outcomes of several performance indicators. Distinction designations are awarded for achievement in several areas and are based on performance relative to a group of campuses of similar type, size, grade span, and student demographics.

It is in this area where the two schools differ. Blalack Middle School's six out of seven distinctions are in Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, post-secondary, with 25% student progress and 25% closing performance gaps. Polk Middle School’s only distinction designation is in Comparative Academic Growth.

Based on Racial/Ethnic Groups, Hispanics comprise the biggest group at Blalack Middle School. They make up for 46.78% of student population, followed by Whites or Caucasians (22.42%), Asians (12.55%), African Americans (12.23%), Two or More Races (5.58%) and Native Americans (0.32%).

At Polk Middle School, Hispanics are the biggest group, comprising 58.45% of student population, followed by African Americans (25.05%), Whites or Caucasians (9.23%), Asians (3.73%), Two or More Races (3.44%) and Native Americans (0.10%).

Based on household incomes, the Blalack Middle School’s economically disadvantaged students is significantly lower at 51.72% compared to 74.56% at Polk Middle School.

In terms of Limited English Proficiency (LEP), a term used in the United States that refers to a person who is not fluent in the English Language, mainly because it is not their native language, Blalack Middle School has 227 English Language Learners or ELLS or about 24.36% of student population. Polk Middle School has significantly more ELLs at 370 or about 36.35% of student population.

Blalack Middle School’s bilingual students comprise 23.82%, gifted and talented students, 18.99%, while 16.09% are in the special education program. Polk Middle School bilingual students comprise 34.97%, gifted and talented students, 9.92%, and 15.72% are in the special education program.

Blalack Middle School's 78 teachers have been working at the campus for an average of 5.6 years with individual teaching experience averaging 8.1 years. Teachers at Polk Middle School, numbering 73 teachers, have been serving the school for an average of 5.2 years with individual teaching experience averaging 9.6 years.

Of its teaching staff, Blalack Middle School has one teacher only serving the school for over 30 years, has seven teachers serving the school for 20-30 years, 19 teachers have worked for 11-20 years, 11 teachers have worked for 6-10 years, while 32 teachers have been serving the school for over 1-5 years, including nine beginning teachers. Polk Middle School has two teachers serving the school for over 30 years, has nine teachers serving the school for 20-30 years, 14 teachers have worked for 11-20 years, 12 teachers have worked for 6-10 years, while 32 teachers have been serving the school for over 1-5 years, including five beginning teachers.

In both schools, female teachers outnumber the male teachers. At Blalack Middle School there are 57 female teachers and 21 male teachers. Of its teaching staff, 11 special education teachers are being assisted by seven teachers aides or paraprofessionals. In addition to its teaching staff, the school has four staff members in the school administration department and six more working as school support staff.

At Polk Middle School there are 56 female teachers and 16 male teachers. Of its teaching staff, seven special education teachers are being assisted by seven teachers aides or paraprofessionals. In addition to its teaching staff, the school has three staff members in the school administration department and five more working as school support staff.