Summary:
The Queen City Independent School District (Isd) is served by a single middle school, Morris Upchurch Middle, which educates 267 students in grades 5 through 8. This school stands out for its exceptional performance in advanced mathematics, with 76.47% of students proficient in Algebra I in the 2025-2026 school year—a full 22 percentage points above the state average. The school also excels in 7th-grade math and 8th-grade social studies, consistently outperforming Texas averages in these areas. However, performance is uneven: while the school shines in middle-grade math, it struggles in 5th-grade math and reading, as well as 8th-grade math, where proficiency rates fall below state benchmarks.
Key metrics reveal a school with a low student-teacher ratio of 10.9, suggesting smaller class sizes and potential for individualized attention. Over 62% of students are economically disadvantaged, yet the school maintains a 0% dropout rate, indicating strong student retention. Spending per student is $11,928, and the school holds a stable state ranking around the 57th percentile (3-star rating) for three consecutive years. This consistency, combined with the low dropout rate, paints a picture of a stable, supportive environment where students progress through the grades.
The most interesting takeaway is the "Algebra I anomaly": the school excels at accelerating top math students into advanced coursework, yet struggles with standard 8th-grade math proficiency (41.86% vs. the state's 47.24%). This creates a two-tiered math performance structure. Additionally, reading is a consistent weakness across grades 5-7, with only 8th-grade reading slightly exceeding the state average. For parents, this means Morris Upchurch Middle offers strong opportunities for advanced math students and a stable, caring environment, but families should be aware of the need for targeted support in reading and foundational math skills.
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