Summary:
The two middle schools in the Raul Yzaguirre Schools For Success district, Early College Stem Academy and North East Stem Academy, serve grades 6 through 8 in a high-poverty area, with both schools reporting over 95% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch.
Early College Stem Academy stands out for its exceptional performance in advanced mathematics, with 89% of students proficient in Algebra I in 2024-2025—nearly double the state average. It also excels in 8th-grade science, where 59% of students were proficient, outperforming the district and state. However, this school struggles with foundational 6th-grade reading and math, with proficiency rates of 37% and 22%, respectively. In contrast, North East Stem Academy shows strength in 6th-grade reading (53% proficient) and math (43% proficient), matching or exceeding state averages, but lags in advanced math and science. North East has also shown consistent improvement in its state ranking over three years, rising from the 16th to the 43rd percentile.
Both schools report a 0.0% dropout rate, a remarkable achievement given their high-poverty populations. A key difference is resource allocation: Early College Stem Academy has a lower student-teacher ratio of 14.1, compared to 19.0 at North East Stem Academy, which may contribute to its success in specialized subjects. Social studies is a consistent weakness for both schools, with proficiency rates around 23-24%, below district and state averages. Overall, parents should consider that Early College Stem Academy offers a strong advanced math and science program, while North East Stem Academy provides a more balanced foundation in early middle school subjects.
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