Summary:
The Cleburne Independent School District (Isd) is home to two middle-level schools: Ad Wheat Middle (serving grades 7-8) and Lowell Smith Junior Intermediate (serving grades 5-6). The district ranks in the 40th percentile statewide, and both schools serve a high percentage of economically disadvantaged students, with Lowell Smith at 74.53% and Ad Wheat at 69.94%.
The most notable standout is Ad Wheat Middle, which excels in advanced math: 88.14% of its 8th graders taking Algebra I are proficient, far exceeding state and district averages. However, this success contrasts sharply with its standard math performance, where only 13.35% of 7th graders and 41.94% of 8th graders are proficient in grade-level math. This creates a "two-tiered" math department where top students thrive, but the majority struggle. Lowell Smith Junior Intermediate shows a different strength: its Spanish-language STAAR assessments outperform the state, with 40% of 5th graders proficient in math on the Spanish test versus 19.06% statewide. Yet, it faces a significant challenge in 5th-grade science, where only 18.12% are proficient—a 20-point gap from its own math scores and well below the state average.
Key metrics reveal resource differences: Ad Wheat Middle spends $11,129 per student (with a 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio), while Lowell Smith Junior Intermediate spends $9,739 (with a 13.1:1 ratio). A concerning trend is the 20-point drop in 7th-grade math proficiency at Ad Wheat from 33.04% to 13.35% in one year, warranting investigation. Overall, both schools lag behind state averages in reading, math, science, and social studies, with the exception of Ad Wheat's Algebra I program. Parents should note that while advanced opportunities exist, foundational skills in core subjects need significant improvement across the district.
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