Summary:
Simms, Texas, is home to a single middle school, James Bowie Middle, which serves grades 6 through 8 within the Simms Independent School District (Isd).
James Bowie Middle is a small school with just 115 students and a very low student-teacher ratio of 9.4 to 1, which suggests students can receive a lot of individual attention. The school's standout feature is its exceptional performance in Algebra I, where 91.67% of test-takers were proficient in the 2025-2026 school year—far exceeding the state average of 54.03%. However, this success contrasts with struggles in other core subjects. In the same year, proficiency rates in reading and math for all grades fell below state averages, and the school's overall state ranking dropped from the 60th percentile (3 stars) in 2024-2025 to the 40th percentile (2 stars) in 2025-2026. The school also has a 0% dropout rate and a high economic disadvantage rate, with 57.39% of students eligible for free or reduced lunch.
One interesting takeaway is the school's efficiency: it operates with a low per-student spending of $9,883 while maintaining a low student-teacher ratio. This combination is unusual and suggests the school is managing its budget carefully, though it may also indicate below-average teacher salaries. The school's success in accelerating top math students in Algebra I, while the majority of 8th graders struggle with grade-level math (only 42.5% proficient), highlights a key area for improvement. Because this is the only middle school in the district, the district's performance is entirely dependent on this one school, making its academic trends especially important for local families.
Thank you for your feedback!