The top reported proficiency rate is 48% in Science. The lowest is 30% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Syracuse Jr High
Syracuse Jr High sits in a rapidly growing suburban community along the Wasatch Front, serving grades seven through nine as a junior high within the Davis District. The school enrolls a sizable student body for its grade band, drawing from a predominantly white student population with a modest share of Hispanic students and smaller numbers from other racial and ethnic groups. A relatively small share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which suggests the area is generally above the low-income threshold compared to many other parts of the state.
The school’s academic performance on the state’s RISE assessments presents a mixed picture. In math, the proficiency rate sits well below the midpoint among Davis County districts. In English language arts, performance is higher but still below the county midpoint. Science proficiency is the strongest subject, approaching half of students meeting the state’s proficiency benchmark, yet still falls short of the county’s middle range. Overall, the school’s combined proficiency index places it below the midpoint relative to other districts in the county, meaning families looking at comparative achievement will see that Syracuse Jr High lags behind many of its Davis County peers. A parent may want to ask the school about academic supports and any targeted interventions in math and literacy, as those are the areas where the gap is widest.
The school’s setting in Syracuse is a key part of its context. Syracuse has transformed from an agricultural and salt-production town into a bedroom community that has seen extraordinary population growth over the past few decades. The city is predominantly residential, with low-density suburban development and limited traditional street life, though the city has planned a Town Center with design guidelines aimed at creating a more walkable civic core. Schools in the area sit on separated campuses within residential neighborhoods rather than near a downtown. Antelope Island State Park is a major recreational anchor nearby, accessible via a causeway, and the city maintains a network of trails. Major employment is not heavily concentrated within Syracuse itself; the proximity to Hill Air Force Base in neighboring communities likely contributes to the local economy, though the data does not detail specific large employers in town.
At the district level, two recent changes are relevant for families. Davis District opened Farmington High School in 2022 to relieve overcrowding, which altered high school boundaries and feeder patterns for students in the Farmington and Kaysville area, a change that affects Syracuse Jr High students as they plan their high school pathway. Additionally, Utah’s statewide expansion of optional full-day kindergarten began in the 2023-24 school year, giving families across the district access to free full-day kindergarten—a lasting expansion of early-childhood options that does not directly affect a junior high but reflects the district’s overall programmatic growth.
For a family evaluating this school, the peer environment is largely homogeneous, the community is family-oriented and growing quickly, and the housing market is active. The academic picture is one where improvement efforts would be welcome, especially in math and reading. A parent would do well to talk with the school about how it supports students who are not yet at the proficiency mark and how it prepares students for high school coursework in a district that has been expanding its facilities and early-learning options.
See more original research from School Decision →