Summary:
The New Braunfels Independent School District (Isd) is home to two middle schools, New Braunfels Middle and Oakrun Middle, serving grades 6-8 in a district ranked in the top 23% of Texas school districts. The most important takeaway for parents is the stark performance gap between these two schools, despite being in the same high-performing district. Oakrun Middle is the clear standout, earning a 4-star rating and ranking in the 80th percentile statewide, while New Braunfels Middle holds a 2-star rating and sits in the 38th percentile. This 42-percentile-point difference is reflected across nearly every academic metric, from reading and math to social studies and advanced coursework.
Key metrics highlight the divide. In 8th grade, Oakrun Middle students achieve 78.34% proficiency in reading and 50% in math, far exceeding the state averages of 58.69% and 47.24%, respectively. In contrast, New Braunfels Middle lags behind with 59.31% in reading and 39.65% in math. The gap is most dramatic in 8th grade social studies, where Oakrun Middle posts 49.26% proficiency versus just 22.25% at New Braunfels Middle. Additionally, Oakrun Middle excels in advanced math, with 96.34% of Algebra I students scoring proficient, compared to 83.76% at New Braunfels Middle and just 54.03% statewide.
Several interesting findings emerge. Both schools experience a significant "7th grade math slump," with proficiency dropping sharply from 6th to 7th grade, indicating a district-wide challenge in math instruction. Spending per student is similar ($7,963 at Oakrun vs. $7,467 at New Braunfels), suggesting the performance gap is driven more by school-level factors like instructional quality and culture than by funding. For parents, Oakrun Middle offers consistently strong academics and advanced opportunities, while New Braunfels Middle shows critical weaknesses, particularly in social studies, that may require targeted support.
Thank you for your feedback!