Why this matters
Demographic composition shapes every other number on a school profile. High-poverty schools face structural headwinds — not because of students themselves, but because of funding gaps, staff turnover, and reduced access to enrichment. The Free/Reduced Lunch rate is the most-cited poverty proxy in US K-12 data. Trend it alongside teacher turnover and chronic absence for the clearest picture.
What we're seeing
At Haskell Elem Sci Tech Engr Arts And Math (STEAM) Magnet, student body composition has risen 1% over the 5-year window — from 72% in 2020 to 73% in 2023. Despite that, the gap vs US average of 52% (FRL) has actually widened — from 20% above in 2020 to 21% above in 2023.