Crane Middle

Crane Middle in Crane, TX, serves 261 students in grades 6 through 8 within the Crane Independent School District (Isd), a small, rural district that ranks in the 8th percentile statewide.

Crane Middle shows a striking contrast in academic performance. On one hand, the school excels at accelerating top math students: 80% of students taking Algebra I were proficient, far exceeding the state average of 54%. On the other hand, general math instruction struggles, with only about 15% of 6th and 7th graders proficient in math—roughly half the state average. Social Studies is a persistent weakness, with just 10.2% of 8th graders proficient, compared to 31.7% statewide. The school’s overall state ranking has dropped to the 15th percentile (1 star), a decline from its recent peak. Nearby McCamey Middle (143 students, 21st percentile) faces similar challenges but is smaller and also shows strong Algebra I results on a much smaller scale.

Performance for specific student groups has been volatile. White students’ ranking swung from the 74th percentile (4 stars) in 2024-2025 to the 29th percentile (1 star) the following year. The school’s ability to serve low socioeconomic status students has also declined sharply, dropping from the 33rd percentile to the 9th percentile. Additionally, the free/reduced lunch rate fluctuated wildly—from 59.7% to 74.3% and then down to 8.05%—likely due to reporting changes rather than economic shifts. A recent 1.1% dropout rate, while low, breaks a streak of zero dropouts. The key takeaway for parents is that Crane Middle has a world-class program for advanced math students but faces deep challenges in core instruction for most students, especially in math and social studies.