When it comes to academics, Woonsocket Middle School students are way
behind their peers statewide. The majority of them cannot solve math
problems and don't know how to write coherent sentences. Many of these
children say the work is easy and wish their teachers would challenge
them more. Beyond that, they just wish the adults would act like, well,
adults and let the students focus on growing up.
Woonsocket Middle School figures are in bold. (State figures are
in parentheses.)
Learning assessments
• Percentage of students who met the state standard in the last round of
testing:
Mathematics:
35% (57%) Skills
7% (28%) Concepts
10% (33%) Problem solving
Reading:
47% (58%) Basic understanding
17% (32%) Analysis & interpretation
Writing:
48% (69%) Effectiveness
33% (49%) Conventions
18% (36%) Writing
Student life
• Students who say they can talk to a teacher or other staff member
about:
22% (36%) personal or family problems
9% (16%) academic issues
• Percentage of students who say:
19% (12%) getting along with teachers is a moderate to big
problem
37% (28%) they were robbed one or more times in school
12% (10%) being teased or bothered by other students is a
moderate to severe problem
17% (13%) someone tried to sell them drugs one or more times in
school
SOURCES: Information Works! School Year 2003-2004; Rhode Island
Kids Count; SALT Survey 2004; U.S. Census
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