W H Gaston Middle

Summary:

W H Gaston Middle is a public middle school in Dallas, Texas, serving 688 students in grades 6-8 and part of the Dallas Independent School District.

While W H Gaston Middle has a significantly higher Hispanic student population (83.72%) compared to nearby schools, which range from 29.44% to 76.66% Hispanic, the school consistently ranks in the bottom quartile of Texas middle schools with a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger. Its STAAR test scores are significantly lower than district and state averages across all subjects and grade levels, and the school has seen a steady increase in its dropout rate, rising from 0.4% in 2017-2018 to 2.2% in 2020-2021, which is higher than surrounding schools. Additionally, over 90% of W H Gaston Middle's students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high level of economic disadvantage.

Compared to nearby schools like Lake Highlands J H and Vanston Middle, W H Gaston Middle's academic performance lags significantly. For example, in 2023-2024, the percentage of 8th-grade students proficient or better in STAAR Reading at W H Gaston Middle was 34.52%, compared to 41.79% at Vanston Middle and 58.88% at Lake Highlands J H. While the school has a relatively low student-teacher ratio of 13.7, this has not translated into improved academic outcomes for students.


Detail:

Public 6-8

 9565 Mercer Dr
       Dallas, TX  75228-3753


(972) 502-5400

District: Dallas Independent School District (Isd)

SchoolDigger Rank:
1822nd of 2,361 Texas Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $11,591 Help


Students who attend W H Gaston Middle usually attend:

High:    Bryan Adams H S Leadership Academy

Feeder schools for W H Gaston Middle:

Elementary:    Alex Sanger Preparatory School
    Bayles Elementary
    Edwin J Kiest Elementary
    Larry G Smith Elementary
    More...

Student/teacher ratio:  13.7 Help
Number of students:  688

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
83.7%
African American:
11.8%
White:
2.8%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  92% Help


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 Compare W H Gaston Middle to nearby middle schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details W H Gaston Middle ranks worse than 77.2% of middle schools in Texas. It also ranks 20th among 37 ranked middle schools in the Dallas Independent School District (Isd). (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 26.87. (See more...)
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The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: Hispanic (83.7%), African American (11.8%), White (2.8%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 92% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at W H Gaston Middle is 13.7. 24 middle schools in the Dallas Independent School District (Isd) have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
Help
Compare W H Gaston Middle employs 50 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at W H Gaston Middle is $11,591, which is the 17th highest among 37 middle schools in the Dallas Independent School District (Isd).
Schooldigger Rankings:

W H Gaston Middle was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.
SchoolDigger ranks W H Gaston Middle 1822nd of 2361 Texas public middle schools. (See W H Gaston Middle in the ranking list.)

Dallas Independent School District (Isd):

SchoolDigger ranks Dallas Independent School District (Isd) 557th of 968 Texas school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for W H Gaston Middle

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Compare

Rank History for all students at W H Gaston Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 12.73 1469th 1573 6.6%
2005 13.86 1455th 1582 8.0%
2006 9.30 1514th 1585 4.5%
2007 17.20 1531st 1684 9.1%
2008 43.14 1164th 1718 32.2%
2009 43.09 1203rd 1763 31.8%
2010 42.40 1293rd 1803 28.3%
2011 33.74 1551st 1895 18.2%
2012 29.14 1527th 1951 21.7%
2013 28.35 1586th 1973 19.6%
2014 23.83 1650th 1987 17.0%
2015 20.93 1773rd 2043 13.2%
2016 28.99 1574th 1987 20.8%
2017 24.04 1647th 2027 18.7%
2018 27.99 1583rd 2080 23.9%
2019 28.76 1640th 2193 25.2%
2021 17.93 1942nd 2252 13.8%
2022 27.72 1716th 2254 23.9%
2023 28.21 1767th 2330 24.2%
2024 26.87 1822nd 2361 22.8%
See the entire list of Texas Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at W H Gaston Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 70.54 186th 1376 86.5%
2019 73.59 198th 1445 86.3%
2021 52.63 549th 1592 65.5%
2022 53.88 547th 1643 66.7%
2023 54.83 604th 1720 64.9%
See the entire list of Best Texas Middle Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at W H Gaston Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 42.86 776th 1597 51.4%
2019 39.15 926th 1626 43.1%
2021 40.90 885th 1712 48.3%
2022 49.47 670th 1757 61.9%
2023 48.18 717th 1815 60.5%
See the entire list of Best Texas Middle Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at W H Gaston Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 41.48 1193rd 2039 41.5%
2019 41.55 1235th 2073 40.4%
2021 24.39 1822nd 2172 16.1%
2022 37.93 1422nd 2220 35.9%
2023 38.68 1420th 2251 36.9%
See the entire list of Best Texas Middle Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at W H Gaston Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 28.64 1544th 2008 23.1%
2019 29.64 1560th 2047 23.8%
2021 16.10 1939th 2151 9.9%
2022 29.94 1634th 2221 26.4%
2023 31.75 1636th 2241 27.0%
See the entire list of Best Texas Middle Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at W H Gaston Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 18.85 1305th 1430 8.7%
2019 12.20 1372nd 1446 5.1%
2021 7.75 1433rd 1501 4.5%
2022 18.30 1337th 1488 10.1%
2023 14.35 1372nd 1481 7.4%
See the entire list of Best Texas Middle Schools for Gifted and Talented Students!

Rank History for At Risk students at W H Gaston Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 53.31 699th 2008 65.2%
2019 60.46 532nd 2058 74.1%
2021 39.80 1220th 2118 42.4%
2022 49.14 910th 2182 58.3%
See the entire list of Best Texas Middle Schools for At Risk Students!

Rank History for Male students at W H Gaston Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 26.02 1619th 2030 20.2%
2019 26.96 1630th 2069 21.2%
2021 20.88 1818th 2168 16.1%
2022 25.42 1776th 2228 20.3%
2023 25.70 1762nd 2245 21.5%
See the entire list of Best Texas Middle Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at W H Gaston Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 32.98 787th 1167 32.6%
2019 28.33 910th 1193 23.7%
2021 24.32 1038th 1213 14.4%
2022 33.42 862nd 1251 31.1%
2023 34.53 836th 1273 34.3%
See the entire list of Best Texas Middle Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at W H Gaston Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 35.29 1259th 1895 33.6%
2019 38.61 1207th 1935 37.6%
2021 23.58 1711th 2043 16.3%
2022 34.91 1396th 2077 32.8%
2023 35.01 1448th 2116 31.6%
See the entire list of Best Texas Middle Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at W H Gaston Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 24.71 1398th 1673 16.4%
2019 21.22 1471st 1684 12.6%
2021 13.37 1593rd 1700 6.3%
2022 22.16 1503rd 1723 12.8%
2023 37.83 1180th 1749 32.5%
See the entire list of Best Texas Middle Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Texas Education Agency, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

W H Gaston Middle Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 






Data source: Texas Education Agency

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Enrollment information for W H Gaston Middle

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 288 395 41 136 4 n/a n/a 0 864
1989 262 349 36 147 3 n/a n/a 0 797
1990 266 334 27 160 3 n/a n/a 0 790
1991 246 367 22 161 6 n/a n/a 0 802
1992 273 279 28 183 4 n/a n/a 0 767
1993 242 266 35 201 4 n/a n/a 0 748
1994 244 295 31 179 2 n/a n/a 0 751
1995 189 407 35 228 2 n/a n/a 0 861
1996 189 407 35 228 2 n/a n/a 0 861
1997 169 354 38 242 8 n/a n/a 0 811
1998 161 426 44 260 5 n/a n/a 0 896
1999 148 427 34 295 5 n/a n/a 0 909
2000 135 452 45 373 6 n/a n/a 0 1011
2001 112 395 39 422 8 n/a n/a 0 976
2002 79 392 36 473 5 n/a n/a 0 985
2003 79 392 36 473 5 n/a n/a 0 985
2004 72 365 29 490 8 n/a n/a 0 964
2005 54 340 26 467 7 n/a n/a 0 894
2006 43 301 23 486 3 n/a n/a 0 856
2007 52 304 21 550 3 n/a n/a 0 930
2008 67 157 15 667 2 n/a n/a 0 908
2009 57 163 10 734 3 n/a n/a 0 967
2010 69 134 13 839 3 n/a n/a 0 1058
2011 55 152 3 890 4 3 6 0 1113
2012 57 177 5 937 1 2 6 0 1185
2013 39 194 7 874 4 1 7 0 1126
2014 40 216 4 875 3 1 4 0 1143
2015 40 184 3 848 3 2 6 0 1086
2016 32 151 4 808 3 1 4 0 1003
2017 38 127 4 814 4 1 6 0 994
2018 39 139 4 787 4 0 6 0 979
2019 46 128 2 754 2 0 7 0 939
2020 39 133 1 682 3 2 3 0 863
2021 24 132 0 628 3 1 1 0 789
2022 22 95 1 576 3 1 3 0 701
2023 19 81 2 576 5 0 5 0 688

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at W H Gaston Middle

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 864 43.0 20.0 n/a
1989 797 n/a n/a n/a
1990 790 50.0 15.8 n/a
1991 802 50.0 16.0 n/a
1992 767 48.6 15.7 45.1
1993 748 43.0 17.4 57.4
1994 751 46.5 16.2 49.3
1995 861 55.6 15.5 57.1
1996 861 55.6 15.5 57.1
1997 811 57.0 14.2 60.4
1998 896 57.0 15.7 55.5
1999 909 63.3 14.4 55.9
2000 1011 66.4 15.2 62.7
2001 976 70.8 13.8 68.8
2002 985 65.8 15.0 80
2003 985 65.8 15.0 80
2004 964 62.0 15.5 75.7
2005 894 59.7 15.0 78.5
2006 856 58.5 14.6 84.1
2007 930 57.5 16.2 86.3
2008 908 73.5 12.4 84.4
2009 967 72.0 13.4 85.5
2010 1058 76.6 13.8 89.1
2011 1113 78.5 14.1 90
2012 1185 73.0 16.2 90.5
2013 1126 77.5 14.5 91.8
2014 1143 68.5 16.6 93
2015 1086 71.0 15.2 92.7
2016 1003 67.0 14.9 93.3
2017 994 62.9 15.7 97.1
2018 979 70.3 13.9 97.4
2019 939 63.0 14.9 93.4
2020 863 61.0 14.1 93.5
2021 789 59.2 13.3 91.1
2022 701 51.2 13.6 93.6
2023 688 50.0 13.7 92

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio W H Gaston Middle

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 864 43.0 20.0 n/a
1989 797 n/a n/a n/a
1990 790 50.0 15.8 n/a
1991 802 50.0 16.0 n/a
1992 767 48.6 15.7 45.1
1993 748 43.0 17.4 57.4
1994 751 46.5 16.2 49.3
1995 861 55.6 15.5 57.1
1996 861 55.6 15.5 57.1
1997 811 57.0 14.2 60.4
1998 896 57.0 15.7 55.5
1999 909 63.3 14.4 55.9
2000 1011 66.4 15.2 62.7
2001 976 70.8 13.8 68.8
2002 985 65.8 15.0 80
2003 985 65.8 15.0 80
2004 964 62.0 15.5 75.7
2005 894 59.7 15.0 78.5
2006 856 58.5 14.6 84.1
2007 930 57.5 16.2 86.3
2008 908 73.5 12.4 84.4
2009 967 72.0 13.4 85.5
2010 1058 76.6 13.8 89.1
2011 1113 78.5 14.1 90
2012 1185 73.0 16.2 90.5
2013 1126 77.5 14.5 91.8
2014 1143 68.5 16.6 93
2015 1086 71.0 15.2 92.7
2016 1003 67.0 14.9 93.3
2017 994 62.9 15.7 97.1
2018 979 70.3 13.9 97.4
2019 939 63.0 14.9 93.4
2020 863 61.0 14.1 93.5
2021 789 59.2 13.3 91.1
2022 701 51.2 13.6 93.6
2023 688 50.0 13.7 92

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for W H Gaston Middle

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $1,470 (15.8%) $7,835 (84.2%) $9,306
2020 $1,976 (18.6%) $8,630 (81.4%) $10,606
2021 $1,493 (12.9%) $10,098 (87.1%) $11,591

Data source: Texas Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on W H Gaston Middle

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 1640th of 2193 Middle schoolsRanks 1767th of 2330 Middle schools
 1.1%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
6th Grade Reading (W H Gaston Middle)1735
 18%
   6th Grade Reading (Dallas Independent School District (Isd))2644
 18%
   6th Grade Reading (Texas)3550
 15%
6th Grade Mathematics (W H Gaston Middle)2918
 11%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Dallas Independent School District (Isd))3836
 2%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Texas)4537
 8%
7th Grade Reading (W H Gaston Middle)3737
   7th Grade Reading (Dallas Independent School District (Isd))3744
 7%
   7th Grade Reading (Texas)4752
 5%
7th Grade Mathematics (W H Gaston Middle)232
 21%
   7th Grade Mathematics (Dallas Independent School District (Isd))208
 12%
   7th Grade Mathematics (Texas)4129
 12%
8th Grade Reading (W H Gaston Middle)4343
   8th Grade Reading (Dallas Independent School District (Isd))4048
 8%
   8th Grade Reading (Texas)5356
 3%
8th Grade Mathematics (W H Gaston Middle)5025
 25%
   8th Grade Mathematics (Dallas Independent School District (Isd))5440
 14%
   8th Grade Mathematics (Texas)5544
 11%
8th Grade Science (W H Gaston Middle)3040
 10%
   8th Grade Science (Dallas Independent School District (Isd))3634
 2%
   8th Grade Science (Texas)4945
 4%
8th Grade Social Studies (W H Gaston Middle)1923
 4%
   8th Grade Social Studies (Dallas Independent School District (Isd))2624
 2%
   8th Grade Social Studies (Texas)3531
 4%
End of Course Algebra I (W H Gaston Middle)9764
 33%
   End of Course Algebra I (Dallas Independent School District (Isd))6440
 24%
   End of Course Algebra I (Texas)6245
 17%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students939688
 26.7%
African American12881
 36.7%
American Indian25
 150%
Asian22
Hispanic754576
 23.6%
Pacific Islander00
White4619
 58.7%
Two or More Races75
 28.6%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients93.4%92%
 1.4%


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Frequently Asked Questions about W H Gaston Middle

W H Gaston Middle ranks in the bottom 22.8% of Texas middle schools.

In the 2022-23 school year, 688 students attended W H Gaston Middle.

Students who attend W H Gaston Middle usually go on to attend Bryan Adams H S Leadership Academy

Students at W H Gaston Middle are 84% Hispanic, 12% African American, 3% White.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Texas Education Agency.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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