SUMMARY

Little Falls City School District’s student results are mixed compared with the state average. The district is below the state average in Grades 3-8 reading and math, U.S. History and Government Regents, and the four-year graduation rate. However, Chemistry Regents, Algebra II Regents, Grades 5 and 8 science, and ELA Regents are bright spots. The district spends about as much per student as the state average, pays a lower average teacher salary, and has fewer students per teacher. It also serves lower shares of economically disadvantaged students and English language learners than the state average, while high school chronic absenteeism is higher.

ACHIEVEMENT

Test scores do not show everything about education. But they can help show whether students are learning key skills, such as reading and math. They also help show whether students are on track for more advanced courses and graduation.

What does this mean? New York State tests and Regents exams use a five-level scale. In this report, “proficient” means a student scored at Level 3, 4, or 5. For example, if the proficiency rate is 35%, then 35% of tested students reached Level 3 or higher. It does not mean students earned a 35% exam grade.

The graduation rate shows the share of students who earn a Regents or local diploma within four years of starting high school. When many students take longer than four years, it can be a sign that they need more support.

Little Falls is mixed compared with the state average on the academic measures in this profile. The district trails the state most in U.S. History and Government Regents, Grades 3-8 reading, and Grades 3-8 math. Chemistry Regents and Algebra II are clear bright spots, and science and ELA results are also above the state average.

SPENDING

This section looks at school resources. It shows how much Little Falls spends per student, how teacher pay compares with the state average, and how many students there are for each teacher. In general, more money and more staff can give schools more capacity to support students, though spending levels alone do not determine results.

What does this mean? Per-student spending is the amount a district spends to educate one student for one year. Higher spending can give schools more resources, but it does not guarantee better results. The figure is calculated by dividing district spending by the number of students.

Average teacher salary shows the average yearly pay for full-time public-school teachers in the district. Higher pay can help schools attract and keep teachers.

The student-teacher ratio shows how many students there are for each teacher. A lower ratio can make it easier for teachers to give students more attention. The ratio is calculated by dividing enrollment by the number of public-school teachers.

Little Falls spends about the same amount per student as the state average, but its average teacher salary is much lower. The district also has fewer students per teacher than the state average, which means its staffing level is somewhat more intensive.

CIRCUMSTANCES

Students’ lives outside school can affect how they do in school. These numbers show some of the challenges students may face, including poverty, language needs, disability status, and chronic absenteeism.

What does this mean? Little Falls has lower shares of economically disadvantaged students and English language learners than the state average. Students with disabilities are at the state average. Chronic absenteeism is lower in elementary and middle school but higher in high school: about one in three high school students miss 10% or more of the school year.