Summary:
The three middle schools in the Princeton Independent School District (Isd)—Southard Middle, Mattei Middle, and Clark Middle—serve grades 6 through 8 in a growing suburban area north of Dallas. The district ranks in the 45th percentile statewide, but individual school performance varies widely, making school choice a critical factor for families.
Clark Middle is the standout school, achieving the highest proficiency rates in 7th grade reading (59.79%), 7th grade math (58.55%), and 8th grade math (67.72%), along with a perfect 100% proficiency in Algebra I for two consecutive years. Its state ranking jumped from the 65th to the 75th percentile, and it boasts a 0.0% dropout rate. This success is linked to the most favorable student-teacher ratio (12.9:1) and highest per-student spending ($10,071). In contrast, Southard Middle is the largest school (929 students) and historically the highest-ranked, but its state percentile has declined from 78th to 66th over three years. Mattei Middle faces the most challenges, with the lowest state ranking (49th percentile) and the highest rate of economic disadvantage (69.25%), scoring below district averages in most subjects.
A key takeaway is the "Algebra I anomaly": all three schools achieve near-perfect Algebra I scores (98-100%), yet standard 8th grade math proficiency ranges from just 43% to 67%, indicating that only advanced students take the exam. Another district-wide weakness is 8th grade social studies, where only Southard Middle (38.06%) exceeds the state average (31.69%). For parents, Clark Middle offers the strongest academic environment despite its smaller size, while Southard Middle remains a solid choice with a slight downward trend, and Mattei Middle may require additional support for students.
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