Compare Nichols Elementary School with Sparks Elementary School

Nichols Elementary School performed excellent to earn a State accountability rating of A (90-100) 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 95 in student achievement, 95 in school progress and an impressive100 in closing performance gaps. It scored 97 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, Sparks Elementary School also performed excellent to earn a State accountability rating of A. The school posted 94 in student achievement, 96 in school progress, 100 in closing performance gaps and 97 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.

Both schools garnered only six distinction designations or awards for outstanding performance. These are in Reading/English Language Arts (ELA), Mathematics, Science, post-secondary, with 25% student progress and 25% closing performance gaps.

Based on Racial/Ethnic Groups, Asians comprise the biggest group at Nichols Elementary School. They make up for 58.48% of student population, followed by Whites or Caucasians (26.90%), Hispanics (6.34%), Two or More Races (4.41%), African Americans (3.45%) and Native Americans (0.41%).

The student population at Sparks Elementary School is also predominantly by Whites or Caucasians at 40.95%, followed by Asians (40.11%), Hispanics (11.64%), Two or More Races (4.49%), African Americans (2.52%) and Native Americans (0.28%).

Based on household incomes, the Nichols Elementary School’s economically disadvantaged students is slightly lower at 1.38% compared to 5.05% at Sparks Elementary 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, Nichols Elementary School has a higher number of English Language Learners comprising 8.00% of its student population compared to 7.99% at Sparks Elementary School.

Nichols Elementary School’s bilingual students comprise 7.59%, gifted and talented students, 11.17%, while 8.41% are in the special education program. Sparks Elementary School bilingual students comprise 7.57%, gifted and talented students, 7.57%, and 13.04% are in the special education program.

41 teachers employed at Nichols Elementary School have been teaching in the school for an average of about 6.9 years with individual teaching experience averaging 10.2 years. The 46 teachers at Sparks Elementary School have been serving the school for an average of 5.7 years with individual teaching experience averaging 10.5 years.

Of its teaching staff, Nichols Elementary School no teacher serving the school for over 30 years, has three teachers serving the school for 20-30 years, nine teachers have worked for 11-20 years, seven teachers have worked for 6-10 years, while 19 teachers have been serving the school for over 1-5 years, including four beginning teachers. Sparks Elementary School no teacher serving the school for over 30 years, has three 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 17 teachers have been serving the school for over 1-5 years, and school has no beginning teacher.

In both schools, female teachers outnumber the male teachers. At Nichols Elementary School there are 40 female teachers and zero male teacher. Of its teaching staff, three special education teachers are being assisted by three teachers aides or paraprofessionals. In addition to its teaching staff, the school has two staff members in the school administration department and five more working as school support staff.

At Sparks Elementary School there are 44 female teachers and one male teacher only. Of its teaching staff, four special education teachers are being assisted by five teachers aides or paraprofessionals. In addition to its teaching staff, the school has two staff members in the school administration department and five more working as school support staff.