Summary
Bedichek Middle in Austin, TX, serves 671 students in grades 6-8 and is located in a high-poverty area where over 84% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The school has consistently ranked in the bottom 10-15% of Texas middle schools over the past decade, with its most recent state percentile ranking at the 8th percentile, earning a 0-star rating.
Bedichek's test scores are dramatically lower than nearby schools, creating a stark contrast. For example, only 22% of 6th and 7th graders were proficient in Reading, compared to 69% at Small Middle (4.25 miles away). The most concerning metric is mathematics proficiency, where 0% of 7th graders met the state standard in 2025-2026, a trend that has persisted for multiple years. This is far worse than even the most similar nearby schools like Paredes Middle (3% state rank) or Mendez Middle (10% state rank). Interestingly, Bedichek spends significantly more per student ($13,401) than higher-performing schools like Small Middle ($10,007) and Covington Middle ($11,664), suggesting the challenge is not a lack of financial resources but how they are utilized.
Despite these challenges, there are a few bright spots. Students who take Algebra I perform exceptionally well, with 77.65% proficient, far exceeding the Austin Independent School District average of 51.77%. This creates a paradox where 8th-grade math proficiency appears respectable at 31.29% (above the state average), likely because high-performing Algebra I students inflate the score. Additionally, Bedichek shows relative strength in serving its Special Education and English Language Learner students, ranking in the 24th and 25th percentiles respectively, which is significantly better than the school's overall 8th percentile rank. The most striking comparison is with Small Middle, which has only 24.74% of students on free/reduced lunch and ranks in the 88th percentile statewide, highlighting the powerful correlation between socioeconomic status and academic achievement in this area of Austin.
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