The Murray District in Utah is home to two middle schools: Hillcrest Junior High and Riverview Junior High. Based on the data analysis, Riverview Junior High appears to be the standout school in the district, consistently outperforming Hillcrest Junior High and the state averages across various academic metrics.
Riverview Junior High has higher test scores, with 50.3% of 9th graders proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to 39.5% at Hillcrest and 40% statewide. The school also has a higher statewide ranking, placing 119th out of 210 Utah middle schools, while Hillcrest ranks 129th. Additionally, Riverview Junior High has a lower percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch (21.2%) compared to Hillcrest Junior High (39.18%), indicating a more affluent student population.
While Riverview Junior High spends more per student ($9,665) than Hillcrest Junior High ($8,461), the performance gap between the two schools is significant. This suggests that factors beyond just funding, such as the quality of education, resources, or school leadership, may be contributing to the disparity in student outcomes. The consistent decline in Hillcrest Junior High's statewide ranking over the past three years is also a concerning trend that warrants further investigation.