Summary:
The Galena Park Independent School District (ISD) in Texas oversees five middle schools serving grades 6 through 8, with a total enrollment of 4,558 students across a highly economically disadvantaged area. The district is ranked in the 65th percentile statewide and holds a 3-star rating, with schools showing a wide range of performance levels.
The standout school is Woodland Acres Middle, which dramatically improved from a 3-star to a 4-star rating in one year, jumping to the 76th percentile. It leads the district in 6th-grade reading and math scores and has the highest spending per student at $12,508. In contrast, Cunningham Middle struggles with the lowest state ranking (52nd percentile), the highest dropout rate (1.8%), and weak performance in 8th-grade reading, math, and social studies. North Shore Middle is the largest school (1,299 students) and a consistent 3-star performer with the lowest student-teacher ratio (16.2:1) among 7th/8th grade campuses. Cobb 6th Grade Campus serves only 6th graders and has the highest economic disadvantage rate (91.02%) but shows strength in math. Galena Park Middle has the lowest dropout rate (0.8%) and performs well in 8th-grade math.
A key finding is the district's exceptional 8th-grade math performance, with all schools significantly exceeding the state average, while 7th-grade math is a consistent weakness. Social studies is a universal struggle, with all schools scoring well below the state average. Algebra I End-of-Course exam scores are near-perfect (98-100%), but this likely reflects only advanced students taking the test. The improvement at Woodland Acres suggests higher spending can correlate with better outcomes, but Cunningham's challenges show money alone isn't enough without effective strategies.
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