Summary
Manzano Middle in Brownsville, TX, serves 837 students in grades 6-8 within the Brownsville Independent School District (Isd), and it stands out as a consistently strong performer, especially for its high-needs students.
Manzano Middle is a solid choice for families, particularly those with students who need extra support. The school excels at serving its Hispanic and low-income students, ranking in the 83rd percentile for both groups, and it is exceptionally effective with its Special Education students, ranking in the 88th percentile. This means the school is skilled at helping all students succeed, not just those who are already high-achieving. In fact, Manzano’s performance on advanced high-school-level exams (like Algebra I and Biology) is elite, with 100% of tested students proficient in Biology and English I Reading. This shows the school effectively prepares students for challenging coursework. However, a notable weakness is its Gifted and Talented program, which ranks in the 26th percentile, suggesting this area needs improvement. Compared to nearby schools, Manzano is the second-highest-ranked middle school in its area, trailing only Stillman Middle, which has a lower percentage of economically disadvantaged students but still achieves higher overall scores. Manzano also maintains an exceptionally low dropout rate, consistently near 0.0%.
One interesting finding is a district-wide issue with 7th-grade math. In the 2025-2026 school year, Manzano reported a 0% proficiency rate in 7th-grade math, which mirrors a systemic problem across the district (average 5.23%) and is far below the state average (29.41%). This is not a problem unique to Manzano, but it is a critical area for parents to be aware of and discuss with the school. Overall, Manzano Middle is a strong, supportive school that excels in core subjects and advanced coursework, though it has room to grow in serving its gifted students.
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