The top reported proficiency rate is 29% in Science. The lowest is 18% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Spectrum Academy
Spectrum Academy is a Utah public school district serving kindergarten through twelfth grade, operating two campuses: one in North Salt Lake and another in Pleasant Grove. The district's enrollment is composed predominantly of white students, with a Hispanic population representing the largest minority group. Data on economic disadvantage, special education, and English learner status were not available for this profile, so the full socioeconomic and support-need picture remains unclear.
Academically, the district's state assessment results for math, English language arts, and science in grades three through eight show proficiency rates that fall well below the midpoint among Davis County's districts. While the district participates in Utah's regular RISE assessments, its overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile of the thirteen districts in the county. Parents looking at these scores should note that the assessments cover only the middle-grade span; the profile does not include high school testing data, so the academic trajectory for older students is not captured here. A graduation rate is also absent from the available data, making it impossible to assess how successfully the district sees students through to a diploma.
Chronic absenteeism, a metric that reflects the share of students missing a substantial number of school days, is notably high. The district's chronic absenteeism rate positions it in the bottom quartile among county peers, meaning a larger portion of its students are missing class frequently compared with most other Davis County districts. This pattern often warrants a conversation with the school about attendance supports and the underlying reasons.
On the spending side, the district's per-pupil current expenditure is in the upper range of Davis County districts, significantly above the median. The combination of high per-pupil spending, below-average academic proficiency, and elevated chronic absenteeism could signal that the district serves a student population with heightened needs, or that its resources are directed toward specialized programming. Without detailed program offerings or student support data in this profile, that interpretation remains speculative. A parent considering Spectrum Academy should ask directly about the types of interventions, special education services, and enrichment opportunities the district provides.
The district brief found no parent-relevant changes or strategic priorities publicly reported in the recent span, so the narrative of growth or reform at the district level is not available. Similarly, the profile contains no community context data, such as housing values or local economic conditions, because the district's physical location was not specified in a way that connects to a particular town or city. The two campuses sit in different cities, which likely draws from different attendance areas, but the data does not characterize those communities.
In short, Spectrum Academy is a chartered public school district that, based on the available measures, is academically behind its Davis County peers in the tested grades and faces a pronounced attendance challenge. Its spending is notably higher than most surrounding districts, which may point to a different operational model or student need profile. Families with the flexibility to investigate further will want to visit the campuses, review program offerings directly with administrators, and understand how the district supports its students day to day. Without more granular data on special populations and high school outcomes, the full academic picture remains incomplete.
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