25 Worst Performing Public Schools in the U.S.
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Cassandra Hubbart, AOL
Does Your Child Go Here?
Neighborhood Scout used their patent-pending school rating algorithm to uncover and identify the 100 worst public schools in America. The calculations used to create this ranking involve the students' proficiency in reading and math as determined by the 'No Child Left Behind' state testing for each school, and the National Assessment for Educational Progress. The worst performing schools are found in 20 different states, some in inner city urban areas, and some in rural America.
Click through our gallery to see the 25 worst.
· See Full Methodology
First Up: No. 25 Worst SchoolRelated Links:
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Mapquest | AOL
25. Milwaukee Spectrum School
Milwaukee, Wis.
Grades Served: 9-12
Students Enrolled: 114
School's 'State Test' Scores vs. State
(Grade 11)
Proficient in Math: 11% vs. 75%
Proficient in Reading: 0% vs. 71%
· More on This School
Next: No. 24 Worst SchoolRelated Links:
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Mapquest | AOL
24. Fenger Academy High School
Chicago, Ill.
Grades Served: 9-12
Students Enrolled: 1126
School's 'State Test' Scores vs. State
(Grade 11)
Proficient in Math: 4% vs. 54%
Proficient in Reading: 9% vs. 58%
· More on This School
Next: No. 23 Worst SchoolRelated Links:
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Mapquest | AOL
23. Hope CS
Philadelphia, Pa.
Grades Served: 9-12
Students Enrolled: 456
School's 'State Test' Scores vs. State
(Grade 11)
Proficient in Math: 0% vs. 54%
Proficient in Reading: 3% vs. 65%
· More on This School
Next: No. 22 Worst SchoolRelated Links:
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Mapquest | AOL
22. W.A. Perry Middle School
Columbia, S.C.
Grades Served: 6-8
Students Enrolled: 344
School's 'State Test' Scores vs. State
(Grade 6)
Proficient in Math: 9% vs. 37%
Proficient in Reading: 12% vs. 31%
· More on This School
Next: No. 21 Worst SchoolRelated Links:
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Mapquest | AOL
21. Englewood Technical Prep Academic HS
Chicago, Ill.
Grades Served: 10-12
Students Enrolled: 637
School's 'State Test' Scores vs. State
(Grade 11)
Proficient in Math: 3% vs. 54%
Proficient in Reading: 8% vs. 58%
· More on This School
Next: No. 20 Worst SchoolRelated Links:
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Mapquest | AOL
20. Welcome Center @ Mifflin M.S.
Columbus, Ohio
Grades Served: 6-8
Students Enrolled: 148
School's 'State Test' Scores vs. State
(Grade 8)
Proficient in Math: 8% vs. 72%
Proficient in Reading: 4% vs. 80%
· More on This School
Next: No. 19 Worst SchoolRelated Links:
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Mapquest | AOL
19. Bus. Entrepreneurship, Science, Tech. Academy
Highland Park, Mich.
Grades Served: KG-6
Students Enrolled: 339
School's 'State Test' Scores vs. State
(Grade 4)
Proficient in Math: 0% vs. 82%
Proficient in Reading: 13% vs. 83%
· More on This School
Next: No. 18 Worst SchoolRelated Links:
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Mapquest | AOL
18. Harper High School
Chicago, Ill.
Grades Served: 9-12
Students Enrolled: 1261
School's 'State Test' Scores vs. State
(Grade 11)
Proficient in Math: 2% vs. 54%
Proficient in Reading: 8% vs. 58%
· More on This School
Next: No. 17 Worst SchoolRelated Links:
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Mapquest | AOL
17. Lakeview Middle School
Greenville, S.C.
Grades Served: 6-8
Students Enrolled: 568
School's 'State Test' Scores vs. State
(Grade 8)
Proficient in Math: 4% vs. 22%
Proficient in Reading: 7% vs. 25%
· More on This School
Next: No. 16 Worst SchoolRelated Links:
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Mapquest | AOL
16. School Removed From Ranking
Editor's Correction:
Dorman High Freshman Campus (Roebuck, S.C.) was originally included as No. 16. based on incorrect No Child Left Behind (NCLB) raw data provided by SchoolDataDirect. Dorman should not have been included at all, because there is insufficient test data to include them, given that it's a 9th grade only school in a state where 9th graders do not take the state-specific NCLB. Our apologies to the Dorman High Freshman Campus.
Next: No. 15 Worst SchoolRelated Links:
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Mapquest | AOL
15. Vechig Himdag Mashchamakud
Sacaton, Ariz.
Grades Served: 6-12
Students Enrolled: 67
School's 'State Test' Scores vs. State
(Grade 10)
Proficient in Math: 0% vs. 69%
Proficient in Reading: 9% vs. 74%
· More on This School
Next: No. 14 Worst SchoolRelated Links:
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Mapquest | AOL
14. Alcorn Middle School
Columbia, S.C.
Grades Served: 6-8
Students Enrolled: 494
School's 'State Test' Scores vs. State
(Grade 8)
Proficient in Math: 3% vs. 22%
Proficient in Reading: 5% vs. 25%
· More on This School
Next: No. 13 Worst SchoolRelated Links:
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Mapquest | AOL
13. Choices School
Florence, S.C.
Grades Served: 7-12
Students Enrolled: 21
School's 'State Test' Scores vs. State
(Grade 7)
Proficient in Math: 8% vs. 32%
Proficient in Reading: 8% vs. 26%
· More on This School
Next: No. 12 Worst SchoolRelated Links:
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Mapquest | AOL
12. Charleston Development Academy
Charleston, S.C.
Grades Served: KG-5
Students Enrolled: 94
School's 'State Test' Scores vs. State
(Grade 5)
Proficient in Math: 0% vs. 34%
Proficient in Reading: 7% vs. 34%
· More on This School
Next: No. 11 Worst SchoolRelated Links:
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Mapquest | AOL
11. Circle of Courage Learning Center
Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
Grades Served: KG-8
Students Enrolled: 90
School's 'State Test' Scores vs. State
(Grade 8)
Proficient in Math: 8% vs. 54%
Proficient in Reading: 0% vs. 49%
· More on This School
Next: No. 10 Worst SchoolRelated Links:
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Mapquest | AOL
10. Midlands Math and Business Academy
Columbia, S.C.
Grades Served: 4-8
Students Enrolled: 76
School's 'State Test' Scores vs. State
(Grade 6)
Proficient in Math: 10% vs. 37%
Proficient in Reading: 5% vs. 31%
· More on This School
Next: No. 9 Worst SchoolRelated Links:
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Mapquest | AOL
9. Brentwood Middle School
North Charleston, S.C.
Grades Served: 6-8
Students Enrolled: 582
School's 'State Test' Scores vs. State
(Grade 8)
Proficient in Math: 4% vs. 22%
Proficient in Reading: 4% vs. 25%
· More on This School
Next: No. 8 Worst SchoolRelated Links:
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Mapquest | AOL
8. Morningside Middle School
North Charleston, S.C.
Grades Served: 6-8
Students Enrolled: 814
School's 'State Test' Scores vs. State
(Grade 8)
Proficient in Math: 3% vs. 22%
Proficient in Reading: 5% vs. 25%
· More on This School
Next: No. 7 Worst SchoolRelated Links:
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Mapquest | AOL
7. Spring Creek Elementary
St. Francis, S.D.
Grades Served: PK-8
Students Enrolled: 92
School's 'State Test' Scores vs. State
(Grade 5)
Proficient in Math: 0 vs. 76%
Proficient in Reading: 42% vs. 85%
· More on This School
Next: No. 6 Worst SchoolRelated Links:
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Mapquest | AOL
6. Robeson High School
Chicago, Ill.
Grades Served: 9-12
Students Enrolled: 1258
School's 'State Test' Scores vs. State
(Grade 11)
Proficient in Math: 2% vs. 54%
Proficient in Reading: 5% vs. 58%
· More on This School
Next: No. 5 Worst SchoolRelated Links:
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Mapquest | AOL
5. Youthbuild Charleston Center
North Charleston, S.C.
Grades Served: 9-12
Students Enrolled: 37
School's 'State Test' Scores vs. State
(Grade 9)
Proficient in Math: 0% vs. 36%
Proficient in Reading: 9% vs. 38%
· More on This School
Next: No. 4 Worst SchoolRelated Links:
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Mapquest | AOL
4. HR Acad/Global Awareness HA
Milwaukee, Wis.
Grades Served: 9-12
Students Enrolled: 120
School's 'State Test' Scores vs. State
(Grade 10)
Proficient in Math: 5% vs. 71%
Proficient in Reading: 0% vs. 75%
· More on This School
Next: No. 3 Worst SchoolRelated Links:
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Mapquest | AOL
3. School of Humanities
Milwaukee, Wis.
Grades Served: 9-12
Students Enrolled: 145
School's 'State Test' Scores vs. State
(Grade 10)
Proficient in Math: 0% vs. 71%
Proficient in Reading: 4% vs. 75%
· More on This School
Next: No. 2 Worst SchoolRelated Links:
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Mapquest | AOL
2. Kennedy/Lloyd Charter School
Aiken, S.C.
Grades Served: 5-8
Students Enrolled: 61
School's 'State Test' Scores vs. State
(Grade 7)
Proficient in Math: 0% vs. 32%
Proficient in Reading: 6% vs. 26%
· More on This School
Next: No. 1 Worst SchoolRelated Links:
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Mapquest | AOL
1. Tomorrows Builders Charter School
East St. Louis, Ill.
Grades Served: 9-12
Students Enrolled: 181
School's 'State Test' Scores vs. State
(Grade 11)
Proficient in Math: 0% vs. 54%
Proficient in Reading: 3% vs. 58%
· More on This School
· See All 100 Worst Schools
· See Full Methodology
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Recent Comments
Jaunvivamexico 01:57:14 PM Jun 23 2009
BETWEEN CHICAGO AND SOUTH CAROLINA, WHOS DUMBER? I LOVED THE NAME OF THE #1 SCHOOL.TOMORROW BUILDERS. WHAT IN THE HELL ARE THEY GOING TO BUILD? THEY CANT EVEN LOOK AT BEING A DRUG DEALER BECAUSE THEY DONT KNOW MATH. THEY WIILL SELL IT FIOR LESS THEN THEY BOUGHT IT FOR.
Jaunvivamexico 01:44:04 PM Jun 23 2009
CHICAGO, THIS IS THE ROCK THAT OBAMA GRAWED OUT FROM UNDER, ISNT IT?
Sgrnthumb1 11:03:18 AM Jun 23 2009
Our kids are allowed to fall through the cracks, when thugs gang up and beat them u, counselors coddle the thugs give them rec rooms etc. ( doesn't work ) and our kids are left to fend for themselves.
Sgrnthumb1 11:01:34 AM Jun 23 2009
Our once middle class white high school changed overnite into one where our kids enter through the back gate and the illegal's anchor thugs stand on the front steps as if to say we own this school we own you. Gang violence escalated to the point parents were insisting violent crimes against their white kids should be labled hate crimes.
DanielKingery@PortablePublishing.com 09:55:16 PM Apr 02 2009
I challenge any public/town school that I can teach the students of all the classes k-12 on less 1/4 of the national average cost per student.My e-mail address is DanielKIngery(at)PortablePublishing(dot)com
DanielKingery@PortablePublishing.com 09:54:53 PM Apr 02 2009
I challenge any public/town school that I can teach the students of all the classes k-12 on less 1/4 of the national average cost per student.My e-mail address is DanielKIngery@PortablePublishing.com
iamkittykatt 12:44:55 AM Mar 30 2009
I agree with JKempter and Barbandt- The percentage of students who are proficient tell us nothing! It doesn't tell you what other factors that were taken into consideration. A couple of the High schools have less than 100 students. They are obviously not "traditional" public schools. This is poor journalism- if you want to call it that! :(
JKempter 11:57:21 PM Mar 29 2009
WHAT A BUNCH OF GARBAGE. THESE RESULTS ARE SKEWED SO THAT THE SCHOOLS ARE SCREWED. LOOK AT THE PRESENTER OF THE INFORMATION. "NEIGHBORHOOD SCOUT" IS IN THE BUSINESS OF SELLING REAL ESTATE. THEY ARE NOT SOME ALTRUISTIC NON-PROFIT GROUP HERE FOR OUR EDIFICATION. GO TO "GOOGLE" AND LOOK AT SOME OF THESE SCHOOLS. THE MINORITY POPULATION IN POOR AREAS HAVE HISTORICALLY DONE POORLY IN EDUCATION IN GENERAL, AND ON STANDARDIZED TESTS TO BE MORE SPECIFIC. MANY OF THESE SCHOOLS ARE "ALTERNATIVE" IN NATURE. THESE ARE OFTEN FOR PREGNANT TEENS, KIDS ON PROBATION, HOMELESS/ABANDONED/FOSTER CHILDREN AND STUDENTS WHO DON'T FIT THE BROAD MOLD THAT PUBLIC EDUCATION PRESENTS.PEOPLE, AND THEIR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES, DECRY THE ABYSMALSTATE OF PUBLIC EDUCATION WITHOUT REMEMBERING A FEW TRUISMS:1. PUBLIC SCHOOLS TAKE EVERYONE2. THE VAST MAJORITY OF SUCCESSFUL ADULTS IN THIS COUNTRY ARE PRODUCTS OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS.3. PUBLIC EDUCATION IS CHEAP. THE DOLLAR AMOUNT PER STUDENT IS A FIGURE THAT IS WAY
barbandt 10:29:52 PM Mar 29 2009
im actually a little offended by a list that names 25 worst schools. there are a lot of factors that explain why certain schools perform the way they do and it has a lot to do with how public schools are funded and race and class issues in the U.S. does AOL have any suggestions as to how to get these schools to perform better? and of course barack obama's state/city has some of the worst schools in the country. Illinois has some serious class and race issues that extend way before he became a senator of that state. maybe thats why he's trying to give more money to education. schools are in desperate need for it.
MADlion924 10:16:09 PM Mar 29 2009
choices school in sc shouldn't be included on this list.. it is an alternate to going to jail.. of course test scores will not be good... students at choices are there as an alternative to being in juvenile delinquent facilities
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