Summary:
The North East Independent School District (Isd) oversees 15 middle schools in San Antonio, Texas, serving grades 6-8, and the data reveals a district sharply divided by socioeconomic factors, where a student's address can dramatically predict their academic outcomes.
The standout schools are Lopez Middle, Bush Middle, Hill Middle, and Tejeda Middle, which consistently rank in the top 15% of Texas middle schools. These schools have very low poverty rates (under 30% free/reduced lunch) and produce exceptional test scores, with Lopez Middle leading the district with a 96th percentile state ranking and a 0% dropout rate. In stark contrast, Garner Middle, Wood Middle, and Jackson Middle rank in the bottom 21% of the state, facing poverty rates above 65% and struggling with core subjects like reading and math. Alter Middle is a clear outlier, functioning as a specialized alternative school with only 67 students and an extremely high per-student spending of $288,883.
A key finding is that higher per-student spending does not guarantee higher test scores; the most challenged schools like Garner Middle spend the most ($11,994 per student) but have the lowest academic outcomes. Another interesting pattern is a district-wide slump in 7th-grade math proficiency, with schools like Bradley Middle dropping from 51% proficiency in 6th grade to just 20% in 7th grade. However, Algebra I performance can be a great equalizer, as even struggling schools like Garner Middle achieved a 77% proficiency rate in that advanced course, showing that students can rise to the challenge when placed in rigorous coursework.
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