Summary:
The Bells Independent School District (Isd) is home to a single middle school, Pritchard J H, which serves grades 6 through 8 and has a total enrollment of 231 students. This small school offers a favorable 12:1 student-teacher ratio and has a 0.0% dropout rate, but its state ranking has declined from the 95th percentile in 2023-2024 to the 83rd percentile for the 2025-2026 school year, indicating that while it remains a strong performer, other schools across Texas are improving at a faster pace.
Pritchard J H demonstrates a clear strength in mathematics, consistently outperforming state averages across all grade levels. A standout achievement is its perfect 100% proficiency rate on the Algebra I End-of-Course exam for two consecutive years, signaling an exceptional advanced math program. However, the school shows a notable dichotomy between subjects: while 8th graders scored 87.34% proficient in Math (40 points above the state average), their Reading proficiency was 80% (21 points above the state average). The gap is more concerning in 6th grade, where Reading proficiency at 41.25% falls 12 points below the state average, suggesting a potential weakness in early middle school reading instruction.
Despite these challenges, the school excels in 7th-grade Reading, with a 74.71% proficiency rate that is over 20 points higher than the state average, indicating that reading interventions become highly effective after the first year. Social Studies remains a consistent weakness, with 8th graders scoring only 40% proficient in 2025-2026, though this is still above the state average of 31.69%. With 35.06% of students economically disadvantaged and a per-student spending of $10,558, Pritchard J H offers a strong foundation in math and advanced coursework, but parents should note the need for targeted support in early reading and social studies to help the school regain its top-tier ranking.
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