Summary:
The McDade Independent School District (Isd) in McDade, Texas, serves 377 students across two schools: McDade Elementary (Pre-K through 6th grade) and McDade High School (7th through 12th grade), creating a small, close-knit educational community.
There is a clear performance divide between the two schools. McDade High School is the standout, showing strong improvement by rising from the 34th to the 53rd percentile in state rankings over two years. It outperforms state averages in Biology, English I and II Reading, and U.S. History, and boasts a low dropout rate of 0.6% and a solid 91.3% graduation rate. In contrast, McDade Elementary consistently ranks in the bottom 20-30% of Texas elementary schools, with test scores often far below state averages—for example, only 13.64% of 3rd graders were proficient in Reading versus 51.08% statewide. The high school also benefits from more resources, including a smaller student-teacher ratio (8.5:1 vs. 12:1) and higher per-student spending ($13,470 vs. $10,623).
Key findings highlight areas for attention. The high school has a critical weakness in Algebra I, with only 11.54% proficiency compared to the state's 54.03%. At the elementary level, math performance is inconsistent, with 3rd graders exceeding the state average one year but 4th graders dropping sharply the next. A bright spot is social studies, where 8th graders nearly doubled the state average in proficiency, and U.S. History scores also exceed state norms. Overall, while the high school is on an upward trajectory, the elementary school's struggles suggest a need for targeted support to close the early achievement gap.
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