Baker-Koonce Intermediate

Baker-Koonce Intermediate in Carthage, TX, serves 566 students in grades 4 through 6 within the Carthage Independent School District (Isd), operating with a favorable student-to-teacher ratio of 13.4:1 and a moderate socioeconomic profile where 54.24% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

A standout strength is 6th Grade Reading, which saw a remarkable 11.66 percentage point improvement to reach 57.06% proficiency in the most recent year, outperforming the state average of 53.52%. This success is achieved despite the school having the lowest per-pupil spending ($9,107) among nearby schools, including Carthage J H ($10,650) and Elysian Fields Middle ($11,924). However, mathematics is a persistent challenge across all grades, with 5th Grade Math showing a significant gap of 11.83 points below the state average (35.55% vs. 47.38%). This weakness appears to feed into the district's junior high, where 7th Grade Math proficiency at Carthage J H is a concerning 11.01%. Additionally, 5th Grade Science has consistently underperformed the state average for three consecutive years, never reaching the state benchmark.

The school's unique grade span (4-6) makes direct comparisons to area middle schools difficult, but its smaller class sizes (13.4:1) are a clear advantage over Tatum Middle (15.4:1) and Carthage J H (16.3:1). While Baker-Koonce achieves commendable results in reading with limited resources, its persistent struggles in math and science suggest that targeted investment in STEM intervention programs could be a high-impact strategy to address these critical areas and better prepare students for the transition to junior high.