The top reported proficiency rate is 37% in English language arts. The lowest is 17% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Centennial Middle School
Centennial Middle School serves seventh and eighth graders in the Crane Elementary District on the west side of Yuma. It is a regular public school with no magnet or charter status, and it does not serve sixth grade, despite the grade band listed as six through eight. The school enrolls a large student body, and the overwhelming majority of students are Hispanic, with a smaller number of White students and very small shares from other racial and ethnic groups. Data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals, receive special education services, or are English learners was not available, so a family looking to understand supports for those populations would need to ask the school directly.
On state assessments administered in the most recent school year, Centennial’s results sit below the midpoint among the districts in Yuma County when looking at overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades. In math, about a quarter of students scored at the proficient level or above in seventh grade, and a smaller share in eighth grade. In English language arts, the picture was somewhat stronger: a little over two in five seventh graders met proficiency, while about three in ten eighth graders did. In science, where only eighth graders are tested, fewer than one in five students reached the proficient or above threshold. There is only a single year of comparable assessment data available, so a trend is not yet possible to judge. These results point to a school where academic mastery is a challenge for many students, especially in math and science, and where a parent may want to look into this further with the school to understand the supports and interventions in place.
Yuma itself is a city shaped by agriculture, military bases, and its position near the California and Mexico borders. The Marine Corps Air Station and the Army’s Yuma Proving Ground are major employers, along with farming operations that supply a large portion of the nation’s winter leafy greens. The city also draws a substantial seasonal population of winter visitors. The historic downtown along Main Street functions as the civic and cultural hub, but the overall built environment is sprawling and car-dependent. Housing costs in the area are below the state average, and the typical rent is moderate relative to incomes. Population growth in Yuma has been modest over the last decade, and no major new housing developments or large-scale construction projects were publicly noted in recent reporting.
For the district as a whole, a notable recent change came in late 2023, when voters passed a maintenance and operations budget override for Crane Elementary District. That override funds smaller class sizes, art, music, physical education, and teacher and staff compensation. It is in effect for a multiyear period and directly affects classroom experience and programming for families across the district, including at Centennial.
No data was available on the school’s program offerings, such as elective courses, enrichment activities, or career and technical education pathways. Similarly, information on discipline rates, chronic absenteeism, and staffing ratios was absent from the available records. For a family weighing this school, that missing context is worth seeking directly from the school or district.
Centennial Middle School serves a large, predominantly Hispanic student body in a city with a strong agricultural and military economic base. Its assessment results are modest relative to other districts in the county, meaning a parent should expect that the core academic experience may require additional support at home or through school resources. The recent district override signals an investment in class size and enrichment that may benefit students in the years ahead. The school sits within a community that is growing slowly, with housing that is more affordable than the state average, and a local economy that offers a mix of public-sector, military, and agricultural employment.
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