Summary:
This analysis examines six middle schools serving grades 6-8 within the Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District (Isd), a suburban district in Texas ranked in the 57th percentile statewide.
Blalack Middle is the district's top performer, consistently earning a 4-star rating and ranking in the top 30% of Texas middle schools. In contrast, Long Middle is the most challenged, with the smallest enrollment (477 students) and the lowest state rankings, despite having the highest per-student spending ($12,045) and the most favorable student-teacher ratio (10.5). Polk Middle is a school of concern, showing a sharp decline from the 22nd percentile to the 10th percentile in state rankings, earning a 0-star rating and the highest dropout rate (2.0%) in the district. Field Middle, Perry Middle, and Bush Middle fall in the mid-to-lower performance range, with test scores generally below district averages.
A standout finding is the district-wide strength in Algebra I, where all six schools dramatically exceed the state average (47.01%), with Blalack Middle achieving 97.78% proficiency. However, 7th-grade math is a universal weakness, with every school scoring below the state average of 29.41% proficiency. The data also reveals a strong link between socioeconomic factors and performance: schools with higher percentages of students receiving free or reduced lunch tend to have lower test scores. This is most evident at Long Middle (87.84% economically disadvantaged) and Blalack Middle (53.28%). The contrasting trajectories of Blalack Middle's upward trend and Polk Middle's rapid decline highlight the need for targeted interventions, particularly at Polk, the district's largest middle school.
Thank you for your feedback!