Summary:
Tarkington Independent School District (Isd) is home to a single middle school, Tarkington Middle, which serves grades 6 through 8 in Cleveland, Texas, with an enrollment of 411 students. This school presents a mixed picture of performance, with notable strengths in advanced math and student retention, but significant challenges in core subjects like general mathematics and science.
Tarkington Middle shows a stark contrast between its advanced and standard math programs. In the 2024-2025 school year, Algebra I proficiency soared to 79.17%, far above the state average of 47.01%, suggesting a strong program for high-achieving students. However, general math proficiency is critically low, with 7th-grade math at just 8.75% in 2025-2026—less than one-third of the state average. The school’s overall proficiency across all subjects is about 34.1%, compared to the state’s 45.9%, with the largest gap in mathematics (22.2% vs. 38.4% state). Science is also a hidden weakness, with 8th-grade scores at 25.95% in 2024-2025, nearly 20 points below the state average. On a positive note, the school maintains a perfect 0.0% dropout rate, indicating a supportive environment that retains students despite academic struggles.
Key metrics include a student-teacher ratio of 15.2, per-student spending of $10,140, and 54.01% of students eligible for free or reduced lunch. The school’s state ranking has declined from the 43rd percentile (2 stars) in 2023-2024 to the 26th percentile (1 star) in 2025-2026. Year-over-year test scores show significant volatility, such as 6th-grade math dropping 38% from 34.29% to 21.18% between school years, which may reflect small cohort sizes or staffing changes. For parents, this school offers a strong advanced math track and a caring environment, but the majority of students need substantial support in math and science to close achievement gaps.
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