Summary:
The Waxahachie Independent School District (Isd) is home to three middle schools—Howard J H, Finley J H, and Coleman J H—serving grades 6 through 8 in a suburban area near Dallas. Coleman J H stands out as the top performer, earning a 3-star rating and ranking in the 62nd percentile statewide, while the other two schools hold 2-star ratings. Despite similar socioeconomic backgrounds across the schools, with free/reduced lunch rates ranging from 47% to 50%, Coleman J H consistently leads in core subjects like reading and math, and achieves 100% proficiency in Biology. In contrast, Finley J H shows the most volatility, dropping from the 49th to the 31st percentile in one year, while Howard J H remains a steady middle-of-the-pack option.
Key metrics reveal interesting trade-offs. Howard J H spends the most per student at $10,569 but has the highest student-teacher ratio (16.6) and lower overall test scores, while Coleman J H spends less ($9,624) yet achieves better results with a smaller ratio (13.7). Howard J H is an anomaly in advanced math, posting near-perfect Algebra I scores (96.94% proficiency) despite struggling in standard 7th and 8th-grade math. Science is a differentiator: Finley J H and Coleman J H both beat the state average in 8th-grade science, while Howard J H falls below it. Dropout rates are low across the district, with Coleman J H at just 0.2%.
A district-wide concern is a sharp decline in 7th-grade math proficiency, with scores often in the low 20% range—a drop from 6th-grade levels that mirrors but exceeds state trends. This "7th-grade math slump" suggests a need for curriculum review. Overall, Coleman J H offers the strongest all-around academics, Howard J H excels in advanced math for select students, and Finley J H has strengths in science but struggles with consistency. Parents should consider these differences when choosing a school.
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