Summary:
The two middle schools in the Bonham Independent School District (Isd) serve grades 4 through 8 and face significant challenges, with the district ranking in the 20th percentile statewide and over 60% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch.
Rather L H (grades 7-8) stands out as a bright spot, showing consistent improvement over three years and projected to reach the 55th percentile. Its Reading proficiency exceeds state averages, and its Algebra I performance is exceptional—76% of students were proficient compared to just 22% district-wide. In contrast, Evans Elementary (grades 4-6) struggles across all subjects, with Math proficiency rates far below state benchmarks. For example, only 19% of 4th graders are projected to be proficient in Math versus 49% statewide. A concerning trend at Evans is a sharp decline in 6th-grade Math, dropping from 44% to 25% proficiency year-over-year.
Key metrics reveal that Rather L H spends slightly more per student ($12,293 vs. $11,473) and has a marginally higher student-teacher ratio (15.3 vs. 14.8), suggesting resource allocation matters more than total spending. Both schools perform poorly in Science and Social Studies, with only 20% of 5th graders at Evans proficient in Science and 17% of 8th graders at Rather L H proficient in Social Studies. The district’s dropout rate at Rather L H is 0%, a positive sign. Overall, parents should note the stark divide: Rather L H offers strong Reading and advanced Math programs, while Evans Elementary requires urgent support, particularly in Math, to reverse declining trends.
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