The top reported proficiency rate is 22% in Science. The lowest is 11% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on John F. Kennedy Jr High
John F. Kennedy Jr High serves grades six through eight in West Valley City, part of the Granite District. The school sits in a part of the city that is largely suburban and auto-oriented, though West Valley City itself has been actively building a downtown district around Fairbourne Station, a transit hub with light rail and bus rapid transit. The city is Utah’s second-largest, a mix of residential neighborhoods, industrial space, and retail, with major employers in finance, logistics, and manufacturing. The school is one of four junior highs in the district within the city.
The student body is diverse. Hispanic or Latino students make up the largest share, followed by white students, with smaller populations of students who are Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, Black, Asian, American Indian or Alaska Native, and multiracial. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Data on the share of students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the source material.
State testing results are available for math, English language arts, and science, all from the RISE assessment. In math, the share of students scoring proficient or above was in the single digits. In English language arts, the share was higher but still below a quarter of students. In science, the share was similar to ELA. Across all tested subjects and grades, the school’s overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile relative to other districts in Salt Lake County. The countywide median is substantially higher. A parent may want to look into this further with the school to understand what academic supports are in place and how the school is working to improve outcomes.
The school serves grades six through eight, so there is no graduation rate to report. Data on chronic absenteeism, discipline, staffing ratios, and course access were not available in the source material. The school’s website was not provided, so a parent would need to contact the school directly for information on elective offerings, extracurriculars, and specific academic programs.
West Valley City itself is a place of contrasts. It has a large industrial base, a growing downtown district, and a culturally diverse population. The housing market in the area shows home values and rents that are moderately above national benchmarks, though the cost of buying a home relative to income is high. The school sits within a community that has seen significant investment and development, but the academic performance data for Kennedy Jr High suggests that families should ask detailed questions about how the school supports students who are below grade level and what interventions or enrichment are available. The school’s size is typical for a junior high in a city of this scale, and the grade band means students are in the middle years before high school. Without data on staffing, discipline, or course access, a parent’s next step would be to visit the school and speak with administrators about the academic program and student support structures.
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