Please note: The work of the Council for School Performance is now done by the Office of Education Accountability. Archived reports and trend data on schools and school system are available at the old Council for School Performance webpage.
1998-99 Clusters:
1997-98 Clusters:
1996-97 Clusters:
1995-96 Clusters:
Description of Middle School Clusters For 1998-99
Similar schools are grouped the same way they were grouped last year, using enrollment, percentage of students eligible for free or reduced price lunch, socio-economic ratings of the student body, and the percentage of white students. Most of this year's schools are in the same clusters as last year. The new schools and schools with significant changes in student body population characteristics were re-assigned to cluster groups that better match their current student body population.
High to Middle SES Schools: 1998-99
Cluster 1 (118 elementary schools).On average, approximately 35% of the students in these schools come from high SES households. Student eligibility for free or reduced price lunch ranges between 1% and 20%, with an average of 8%. The student bodies of these schools have an average of 85% white students. Sixty-four percent of these schools are located in the suburban counties of metro-Atlanta. Another 26% are in counties with 80,000 to 120,000 residents in lightly populated suburban and rural areas. Nine percent are located in urban counties.
Cluster 2 (61 elementary schools).On average, about half of the students in these schools come from middle SES households. About 24% of the students come from high SES households. Student eligibility for free or reduced price lunch ranges between 7% and 34%, with an average of 21%. The student bodies of these schools have an average of 84% white students. Only 5% of these schools are located in urban counties. Twenty-six percent are located in the suburban counties of metro-Atlanta; 30% are located in counties with 80,000 to 120,000 residents in lightly populated suburban areas and rural areas; and 39% are located in primarily rural counties.
Cluster 3 (85 elementary schools). On average, about half of the students in these schools come from middle SES households. About 20% of the students come from high SES households. Student eligibility for free or reduced price lunch ranges between 12% and 43%, with an average of 28%. The student bodies of these schools have an average of 83% white students. The schools are located in diverse settings, with 30% located in heavily populated suburban and urban counties; 33% located in counties with 80,000 to 120,000 residents in lightly populated suburban areas and rural areas; and 38% located in primarily rural counties.
Middle SES Schools: 1998-99
Cluster 4 (91 elementary schools).On average, about half of the students in these schools come from middle SES households. About 25% of the students come from low SES households. Student eligibility for free or reduced price lunch ranges between 21% and 61%, with an average of 35%. The student bodies of these schools have an average of 73% white students. Thirty-eight percent of the schools are located in primarily rural counties; 26% are located in counties with 80,000 to 120,000 residents in lightly populated suburban areas and rural areas; and 22% are located in suburban counties of metro-Atlanta. Only 13% are located in urban counties.
Cluster 5 (82 elementary schools). On average, approximately 50% of the students in these schools come from middle SES households. About 33% of the students come from low SES households. Student eligibility for free or reduced price lunch ranges between 26% and 62%, with an average of 44%. The student bodies of these schools have an average of 79% white students. Sixty percent of the schools are located in primarily rural counties and 22% are located in light and heavily populated suburban counties and 18% are located in urban counties.
Cluster 6 (91 elementary schools). On average, 47% of the students in these schools come from middle SES households. About 35% of the students come from low SES households. Student eligibility for free or reduced price lunch ranges between 26% and 64%, with an average of 48%. The student bodies of these schools have an average of 73% white students. Seventy-nine percent of the schools are located in primarily rural counties or in counties with 80,000 to 120,000 residents in lightly populated suburban areas and rural areas. Twenty-one percent are located in heavily populated suburban and urban counties.
Cluster 7 (109 elementary schools). On average, approximately 43% of the students in these schools come from middle SES households. About 41% of the students come from low SES households. Student eligibility for free or reduced price lunch ranges between 39% and 75%, with an average of 56%. The student bodies of these schools have an average of 61% white students. Seventy-five percent of the schools are located in primarily rural counties or in counties with 80,000 to 120,000 residents in lightly populated suburban areas and rural areas. Twenty-five percent are located in heavily populated suburban and urban counties.
Cluster 8 (90 elementary schools). On average, 45% of the students in these schools come from middle SES households. About 38% of the students come from low SES households. Student eligibility for free or reduced price lunch ranges between 39% and 80%, with an average of 60%. The student bodies of these schools have an average of 50% white students. Sixty-nine percent of the schools are located in primarily rural counties or in counties with 80,000 to 120,000 residents in lightly populated suburban areas and rural areas. Thirty-one percent are located in heavily populated suburban and urban counties.
Low SES Schools: 1998-99
Cluster 9 (102 elementary schools). On average, 49% of the students in these schools come from low SES households, while 31% of the students in these schools come from middle SES households.. Student eligibility for free or reduced price lunch ranges between 51% and 95%, with an average of 71%. The student bodies of these schools have an average of 48% white students. Seventy-three percent of these schools are located in primarily rural counties or in counties with 80,000 to 120,000 residents in lightly populated suburban areas and rural areas. Twenty-seven percent are located in heavily populated suburban and urban counties.
Cluster 10 (67 elementary schools) On average, 43% of the students in these schools come from low SES households, while 37% of the students in these schools come from middle SES households.. Student eligibility for free or reduced price lunch ranges between 54% and 94%, with an average of 70%. The student bodies of these schools have an average of 49% white students. Seventy-six percent of these schools are located in primarily rural counties. Twenty-four percent are located in heavily populated suburban and urban counties.
Cluster 11 (65 elementary schools). On average, 47% of the students in these schools come from low SES households, while 35% of the students in these schools come from middle SES households.. Student eligibility for free or reduced price lunch ranges between 60% and 100%, with an average of 82%. The student bodies of these schools have an average of 10% white students. Forty-three percent of these schools are located in primarily rural counties or in counties with 80,000 to 120,000 residents in lightly populated suburban areas and rural areas. Forty-two percent of the schools are located in heavily populated urban counties. Fourteen percent are located in suburban counties of metro-Atlanta.
Cluster 12 (77 elementary schools). On average, 50% of the students in these schools come from low SES households, while 30% of the students in these schools come from middle SES households.. Student eligibility for free or reduced price lunch ranges between 41% and 98%, with an average of 82%. The student bodies of these schools have an average of 13% white students. Forty-six percent of these schools are located in primarily rural counties or in counties with 80,000 to 120,000 residents in lightly populated suburban areas and rural areas. Fifty-four percent of the schools are located in heavily populated urban or suburban counties.
Cluster 13 (128 elementary schools). On average, 65% of the students in these schools come from low SES households, while 25% of the students in these schools come from middle SES households.. Student eligibility for free or reduced price lunch ranges between 54% and 100%, with an average of 92%. The student bodies of these schools have an average of 3% white students. Seventy-two percent of the schools are located in heavily populated urban counties and 28% are located in primarily rural counties or lightly populated suburban and rural counties. .
Description of Middle School Clusters For 1997-98
Schools were grouped according to enrollment, percentage of students eligible for free or reduced price lunch, socio-economic status (SES) of the student body, and the percentage of white students. Schools with major changes from last year were re-assigned to clusters with schools with more similar student bodies (96% remained in the same clusters).
High to Middle SES Schools: 1997-98
Cluster 1 (63 middle schools). These schools have from 700 to 2600 students. On average, 23% of the students in these schools come from high SES households. About 35% of the students come from middle SES households. Student eligibility for free or reduced price lunch ranges between 1% and 28%. The median school had 87% white students. Fifty-three percent of these schools are located in the suburban counties of metro-Atlanta, 31% are in counties with 80,000 to 120,000 residents in lightly populated suburban areas and rural areas and 16% are located in primarily rural counties.
Cluster 2 (27 middle schools). These schools have from 150 to 750 students. On average, 21% of the students in these schools come from high SES households. About 48% of the students come from middle SES households. Student eligibility for free or reduced price lunch ranges between 6% and 36%. The median school had 81% white students. These schools are located in less populated counties with 72% located in primarily rural counties and 20% located in counties with 80,000 to 120,000 residents in lightly populated suburban areas and rural areas.
Middle SES Schools: 1997-98
Cluster 3 (57 middle schools). These schools have from 700 to 1500 students. On average, 43% of the students in these schools come from middle SES households. About 30% of the students come from low SES households. Student eligibility for free or reduced price lunch ranges between 23% and 53%. The median school had 74% white students. These schools are located in diverse settings with 64% located in primarily rural counties, 13% located in counties with 80,000 to 120,000 residents in lightly populated suburban areas and rural areas, and 24% are located in heavily populated suburban or urban counties.
Cluster 4 (43 middle schools). These schools have from 80 to 760 students. On average, 45% of the students in these schools come from middle SES households. About 39% of the students come from low SES households. Student eligibility for free or reduced price lunch ranges between 27% and 52%. The median school had 83% white students. Seventy-eight percent of these schools are located in primarily rural counties and 20% are located in counties with 80,000 to 120,000 residents in lightly populated suburban areas and rural areas.
Cluster 5 (59 middle schools). These schools have from 650 to 2000 students. On average, 49% of the students in these schools come from middle SES households. About 35% of the students come from low SES households. Student eligibility for free or reduced price lunch ranges between 31% and 70%. The median school had 59% black students. The schools are located in diverse settings with 42% located in primarily rural counties, 9% located in counties with 80,000 to 120,000 residents in lightly populated suburban areas and rural areas, 15% located in suburban counties of metro-Atlanta, and 34% located in heavily populated urban counties.
Cluster 6 (80 middle schools). These schools have fewer than 750 students. On average, 35% of the students in these schools come from middle SES households. About 40% of the students come from low SES households. Student eligibility for free or reduced price lunch ranges between 41% and 74. The median school had 58% white students. Nearly 82% are located in primarily rural counties and 10% are located in counties with 80,000 to 120,000 residents in lightly populated suburban areas and rural areas.
Low SES Schools: 1997-98
Cluster 7 (30 middle schools). These schools have from 650 to 1200 students. On average, 57% of the students in these schools come from low SES households. Student eligibility for free or reduced price lunch ranges between 61% and 96%. The median school had 92% black students. The schools are located in diverse settings with 43% located in heavily populated urban counties. Twenty percent are located in the suburban counties of metro-Atlanta. The rest are located in counties with less than 120,000 residents.
Cluster 8 (51 middle schools). These schools have fewer than 700 students. On average, 59% of the students in these schools come from low SES households. Student eligibility for free or reduced price lunch ranges between 62% and 99%. The median school had 82% black students. Sixty percent of these schools are located in primarily rural counties and 34% are located in urban counties.
Description of Middle School Clusters For 1996-97
Schools were grouped according to enrollment, percentage of students eligible for free or reduced price lunch, socio-economic status (SES) of the student body, and the percentage of white students. Schools with major changes from last year were re-assigned to clusters with schools with more similar student bodies (96% remained in the same clusters).
High to Middle SES Schools: 1996-97
Cluster 1 (61 middle schools). On average, 25% of the students in these schools come from high SES households. Student eligibility for free or reduced price lunch ranges between 1% and 24%, with an average of 12%. The student bodies of 82% of these schools are at least 80% white. Fifty-three percent of these schools are located in the suburban counties of metro-Atlanta, 31% are in counties with 80,000 to 120,000 residents in lightly populated suburban areas and rural areas and 16% are located in primarily rural counties.
Cluster 2 (28 middle schools). On average, 20% of the students in these schools come from high SES households. About 55% of the students come from middle SES households. Student eligibility for free or reduced price lunch ranges between 13% and 35%, with an average of 25%. The student bodies of 60% of these schools are at least 80% white. A quarter (25%) have student bodies that are evenly divided between whites and non-whites (40% to 60% of either group). These schools are located in less populated counties with 64% located in primarily rural counties and 25% located in counties with 80,000 to 120,000 residents in lightly populated suburban areas and rural areas.
Middle SES Schools: 1996-97
Cluster 3 (57 middle schools). On average, 45% of the students in these schools come from middle SES households. About 35% of the students come from low SES households. Student eligibility for free or reduced price lunch ranges between 22% and 50%, with an average of 36%. The student bodies of 40% of these schools are at least 80% white. About 20% have student bodies that are evenly divided between whites and non-whites (40% to 60% of either group). These schools are located in diverse settings with 65% located in primarily rural counties, 12% located in counties with 80,000 to 120,000 residents in lightly populated suburban areas and rural areas, and 23% are located in heavily populated suburban or urban counties.
Cluster 4 (40 middle schools). On average, 45% of the students in these schools come from middle SES households. About 35% of the students come from low SES households. Student eligibility for free or reduced price lunch ranges between 28% and 55%, with an average of 40%. The student bodies of 50% of these schools are at least 80% white. Eighty percent of these schools are located in primarily rural counties.
Cluster 5 (61 middle schools). On average, 40% of the students in these schools come from middle SES households. About 35% of the students come from low SES households. Student eligibility for free or reduced price lunch ranges between 37% and 66%, with an average of 53%. About a third of these schools have student bodies that are evenly divided between whites and non-whites (40% to 60% of either group). Thirteen percent have student bodies that are at least 80% non-white. The schools are located in diverse settings with 44% located in primarily rural counties, 10% located in counties with 80,000 to 120,000 residents in lightly populated suburban areas and rural areas, 16% located in suburban counties of metro-Atlanta, and 30% located in heavily populated urban counties.
Cluster 6 (79 middle schools). On average, 40% of the students in these schools come from middle SES households. About 40% of the students come from low SES households. Student eligibility for free or reduced price lunch ranges between 39% and 75%, with an average of 56%. About 40% of these schools have student bodies that are evenly divided between whites and non-whites (40% to 60% of either group). The student bodies of 7% are at least 80% non-white and 11% of these schools have student bodies that are at least 80% white. Near 85% are located in primarily rural counties.
Low SES Schools: 1996-97
Cluster 7 (31 middle schools). On average, 50% of the students in these schools come from low SES households. Student eligibility for free or reduced price lunch ranges between 59% and 95%, with an average of 76%. Sixty-one percent of the student bodies of these schools are at least 80% non-white. The schools are located in diverse settings with 55% located in heavily populated urban counties. Sixteen percent are located in the suburban counties of metro-Atlanta. The rest are located in counties with less than 120,000 residents.
Cluster 8 (46 middle schools). On average, 55% of the students in these schools come from low SES households. Student eligibility for free or reduced price lunch ranges between 66% and 98%, with an average of 79%. Fifty-five percent of the student bodies of these schools are at least 80% non-white. About 10% of the student bodies are primarily white. Sixty percent of these schools are located in primarily rural counties and 32% are located in urban counties.
Description of Middle School Clusters For 1995-96
First, schools were divided into large and small schools based on the state median for school enrollment for grades 6 - 8 (702). Then the schools were clustered by percent eligible for free and reduced price lunch, socio-economic status (SES), and percent of white students.
High to Middle SES Schools: 1995-96
Cluster 1 (56 middle schools): Thirty-five percent of the students come from high SES households. Student eligibility for free or reduced price lunch ranges between 1 % and 23% with an average of 11 %. The student bodies of 84% of these schools are at least 80% white. None of these schools are located in urban counties. Fifty percent of these schools are located in the suburban counties of metro-Atlanta. Another 32% are located in counties with large towns (30,000 to 100,000), lightly populated suburbs, and rural areas. Eighteen percent are located in counties with only small towns (less than 30,000).
Cluster 2 (26 middle schools): About 25% of the students come from high SES households. About 55% come from middle SES households. Student eligibility for free or reduced price lunch ranges between 7% and 31% with an average of 23%. The student bodies of 50% of these schools are at least 80% white. Eight percent of the student bodies are at least 70% minorities. These schools are located in diverse settings with 54% located in counties with only small towns (less than 30,0003, 15% located in counties with large towns (30,000 to 100,000), lightly populated suburbs, and rural areas, and 31% located in heavily populated suburban and urban counties.
Cluster 3 (59 middle schools): Almost 50% of the students come from middle SES households. About 35% come from low SES households. Student eligibility for free or reduced price lunch ranges between 25% and 49% with an average of 35%. The student bodies of 41% of the schools are at least 80% white. These schools are located in diverse settings with 63% located in counties with only small towns Hess than 30,000), 15% in counties with large towns (30,000 to 100,000), lightly populated suburbs, and rural areas, and 23% located in heavily populated suburban and urban counties.
Cluster 4 (43 middle schools): Almost 50% of the students come from middle SES households. About 35% of the students come from low SES households. Student eligibility for free or reduced price lunch ranges between 28% and 49% with an average of 39%. The student bodies of 54% of the schools are at least 80% white. Over 84% are located in counties with only small towns (less than 30,000).
Cluster 5 (54 middle schools): Almost 50% of the students come from middle SES households. About 35% of the students come from low SES households. Student eligibility for free or reduced price lunch ranges between 37% and 66% with an average of 52%. Thirty-five percent of the student bodies of these schools have large percentages of wheel and minorities (40% to 60% of ether). Thirteen percent of the schools have student bodies that are at least 80% minorities. The schools are located in diverse settings with 43% located in counties with only small towns (less than 30,000), 9% in counties with large towns (30,000 to 100,000), 1ightly populated suburbs, and rural areas, 19% located in the suburban counties of metrmAtlanta, and 30% located in urban counties.
Cluster 6 (79 middle schools): About 40% of the students come from middle SES households. About 45% come from low SES households. Student eligibility for free or reduced price lunch ranges between 40% and 71 % with an average of 55%. Forty percent of the student bodies of these schools have large percentages of whites and minorities (40% to 60% of either). The student bodies of 7% of the schools are at least 80% minorities and 11 % of the schools have student bodies that are at least 80% white. Eighty-hve percent are located in counties with only small towns (less 30,000)
Cluster 7 (28 middle schools): About 65% of the students come from low SES households. Student eligibility for free or reduced price lunch ranges between 61% and 100% with an average of 79%. Sixty-one percent of the student bodies of these schools are at least 80% minorities. The schools are located in diverse settings with 57% located in heavily populated urban counties. Fourteen percent are located in the suburban counties of metro-Atlanta. The rest are located in lesser populated counties with large towns (30,000 to 100,000) or only small towns (less than 30,000).
Cluster 8 (48 middle schools): Over 60% of the students come from low SES households. Student eligibility for free or reduced price lunche ranges between 64% and 100% with an average of 80%. Over 50% of the student bodies of these schools are at least 80% minorities. Ten percent of these student bodies are primarily white. Sisty percent of these schools are located in counties with only small towns (less than 30,000). Over 30% are located in urban counties.