Summary:
The Martins Mill Independent School District (Isd) is a small, rural district in Ben Wheeler, Texas, serving 496 students across just two schools: Martins Mill High School (grades 6-12) and Martins Mill Elementary (grades PK-5). The district earns a 4-star rating and ranks in the 73rd percentile statewide, with about 44% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch.
Martins Mill High School is the clear standout, holding a 4-star rating and ranking in the 74th percentile among Texas high schools. It boasts a 95.5% graduation rate, a 0.0% dropout rate, and excels on End-of-Course exams, particularly in U.S. History (81.36% proficient) and English II Reading (78.13% proficient). However, the school's middle school grades (6-8) show a dramatic slump, with 6th-grade math proficiency at just 29.03% and 8th-grade social studies at 16.13%. In contrast, Martins Mill Elementary is rated 3 stars and ranks in the 59th percentile. Its 3rd graders outperform state averages in reading (68.75% vs. 51.08%) and math (59.38% vs. 44.33%), but the school's overall ranking is volatile, swinging from the 61st percentile to the 46th and back to the 59th over three years.
The district's key challenge is bridging the gap between elementary success and the middle school decline. The high school spends $14,460 per student—$4,408 more than the elementary school—which may contribute to its strong high school performance but raises questions about whether increased elementary investment could prevent the middle school slump. Overall, the district offers a world-class high school experience, but parents should be aware of the academic dip in grades 6-8, particularly in math and social studies, before students rebound in high school.
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