Frank Newman Middle

Frank Newman Middle in Cotulla, TX, serves 259 students in grades 6-8 within the Cotulla Independent School District (Isd), a rural South Texas community where over 87% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

This school presents a fascinating contrast in its math program. On one hand, it excels at accelerating top-performing 8th graders into Algebra I, with proficiency rates consistently above 70%—far exceeding the state average of around 54%. However, the majority of students in standard 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade math classes perform well below state averages. For example, in 2025-2026, only 24% of 8th graders met grade-level math standards, compared to 72% at the nearby Mary Harper Middle in the Dilley Independent School District (Isd). This suggests the school focuses heavily on its highest achievers, potentially at the expense of the broader student body. Overall, the school's ranking has dropped sharply from the 51st percentile (3 stars) in 2021-2022 to the 15th percentile (1 star) in 2025-2026, while Mary Harper has improved from the 13th to the 38th percentile over a similar period.

Despite these academic struggles, Frank Newman Middle maintains an exceptionally low dropout rate, often 0.0%, indicating strong student engagement. The school also spends a high $14,545 per student and has a low student-to-teacher ratio of 10.9:1, suggesting ample resources. However, the declining outcomes point to a potential mismatch between resource allocation and instructional effectiveness. For parents, this school offers a standout program for advanced math students but may require extra support for children in standard classes.