Beta You're viewing our redesigned school page. Prefer the classic layout?

Palo Alto Middle

Public Grades 6-8

2155^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,359 Texas Middle Schools

Better than 9% of Texas middle schools

Summary

Palo Alto Middle in Killeen, TX, serves 781 students in grades 6-8 within the Killeen Independent School District (Isd), and is located in a high-poverty area where 76.7% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

This school has consistently ranked in the bottom 10% of Texas middle schools over the past decade, with overall performance significantly below both district and state averages in core subjects like reading and math. For example, only 9.86% of 8th graders were proficient in social studies, compared to 31.69% statewide. However, Palo Alto Middle shows a remarkable "two schools" phenomenon: while general education struggles, its Algebra I program is exceptional. In the 2025-2026 school year, 87.5% of Algebra I students were proficient, far exceeding the district's 47.18% and state's 54.03%—a pattern consistent over four years. This suggests a highly effective advanced math track that operates independently from the rest of the school. Nearby schools like Union Grove Middle (64th percentile) and Roy J Smith Middle (44th percentile) perform much better overall, while Live Oak Ridge Middle, just 1.33 miles away, also struggles but ranks slightly higher (19th percentile).

Palo Alto Middle also has a higher and more volatile dropout rate than its peers, reaching 2.5% in 2023-2024 compared to 0.2% at Liberty Hill Middle. The school performs exceptionally well for its Pacific Islander students (78th percentile statewide) and shows relatively better results for Special Education students (36th percentile) and English Language Learners (25th percentile). However, support for Gifted and Talented students has sharply declined, dropping from the 59th percentile in 2020-2021 to the 11th percentile by 2022-2023. For parents, this school offers a standout advanced math program but faces significant challenges in general academics and student retention.

781

Students ?

16.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$10,831

Per pupil spending ?

76.7%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

2301 W Elms Rd
Killeen, TX 76549-7637

(254) 336-1200

District: Killeen Independent School District (Isd)

Students who attend Palo Alto Middle usually attend:

High:

Robert M Shoemaker High School

Feeder schools for Palo Alto Middle:

Elementary:	Maxdale Elementary
	Willow Springs Elementary

Racial breakdown:

African American:

49.9%

Hispanic:

31.1%

White:

9.5%

See top rated Texas middle schools

Compare Palo Alto Middle to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 22nd percentile in 2016 → 9th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Texas average (24% vs 47% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (9th percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 13 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school24%

District avg36%

Texas avg47%

2,155^th of 2,359

Texas public middle schools ?

Bottom 9%▼ down 13 pts since 2016

From bottom 22% (2016) to bottom 9% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Texas Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

12^th of 12Middle Schools in the Killeen Independent School District (Isd)

607^th of 947Killeen Independent School District (Isd) among Texas districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	16.2	2155 of 2359	8.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	14.3	2166 of 2344	7.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	15.5	2150 of 2372	9.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	12.0	2170 of 2330	6.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	13.3	2088 of 2254	7.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	27.0	1683 of 2252	25.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	16.5	1969 of 2193	10.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	16.6	1899 of 2080	8.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	25.5	1601 of 2027	21.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	30.2	1548 of 1987	22.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	42.2	1290 of 2043	36.9%	★★☆☆☆
2014	26.5	1595 of 1987	19.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	36.6	1409 of 1973	28.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	36.3	1370 of 1951	29.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	36.2	1502 of 1895	20.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	36.6	1397 of 1803	22.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	41.7	1234 of 1763	30.0%	★★☆☆☆
2008	33.8	1366 of 1718	20.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	48.0	1009 of 1684	40.1%	★★☆☆☆
2006	50.3	885 of 1585	44.2%	★★☆☆☆
2005	45.3	982 of 1582	37.9%	★★☆☆☆
2004	38.0	1157 of 1573	26.4%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	23.4	1117 of 1306	14.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	22.1	866 of 997	13.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	27.8	1005 of 1280	21.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	18.7	1147 of 1273	9.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	18.6	1167 of 1251	6.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	31.5	882 of 1213	27.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	20.9	1067 of 1193	10.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	22.2	1009 of 1167	13.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2024	5.4	596 of 617	3.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	15.5	565 of 616	8.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	23.4	524 of 606	13.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	36.2	420 of 589	28.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	15.5	543 of 594	8.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	12.6	553 of 587	5.8%	☆☆☆☆☆

At Risk

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2022	24.0	1897 of 2182	13.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	31.6	1573 of 2118	25.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	25.7	1767 of 2058	14.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	25.9	1731 of 2008	13.8%	★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	31.8	1046 of 1403	25.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	35.0	952 of 1428	33.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	28.8	1377 of 1770	22.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	28.8	1326 of 1720	22.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	24.2	1441 of 1643	12.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	37.8	985 of 1592	38.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	35.8	946 of 1445	34.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	40.6	742 of 1376	46.1%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	16.8	2077 of 2263	8.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	16.2	1691 of 1825	7.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	15.4	2062 of 2242	8.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	14.0	2071 of 2241	7.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	15.6	2023 of 2221	8.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	30.5	1553 of 2151	27.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	16.2	1892 of 2047	7.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	16.2	1862 of 2008	7.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2023	22.4	1321 of 1481	10.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	33.8	1169 of 1488	21.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	64.2	617 of 1501	58.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	30.5	1190 of 1446	17.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	67.7	467 of 1430	67.3%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	17.8	1998 of 2161	7.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	21.9	1513 of 1731	12.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	15.1	1997 of 2119	5.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	13.7	1992 of 2116	5.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	19.7	1847 of 2077	11.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	37.0	1289 of 2043	36.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	26.4	1577 of 1935	18.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	21.6	1681 of 1895	11.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	19.2	2082 of 2275	8.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	21.6	1615 of 1820	11.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	19.3	2019 of 2235	9.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	14.4	2107 of 2251	6.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	20.2	1971 of 2220	11.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	32.6	1559 of 2172	28.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	19.3	1894 of 2073	8.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	19.0	1880 of 2039	7.8%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	16.2	2084 of 2274	8.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	15.6	1686 of 1818	7.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	15.7	2050 of 2246	8.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	10.4	2137 of 2245	4.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	12.2	2099 of 2228	5.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	26.0	1665 of 2168	23.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	16.8	1885 of 2069	8.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	17.6	1846 of 2030	9.1%	☆☆☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2025	8.7	662 of 676	2.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	17.8	748 of 818	8.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	12.8	779 of 817	4.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	21.4	713 of 813	12.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	24.7	606 of 743	18.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	30.9	559 of 753	25.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	22.5	613 of 720	14.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Pacific Islander

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	66.7	5 of 23	78.3%	★★★★☆
2024	21.3	19 of 22	13.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	41.1	14 of 22	36.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	70.6	4 of 19	78.9%	★★★★☆
2019	22.4	20 of 22	9.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	32.6	19 of 24	20.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	36.1	1266 of 1974	35.9%	★★☆☆☆
2025	38.3	1003 of 1568	36.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	40.3	1130 of 1891	40.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	26.9	1536 of 1815	15.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	21.2	1660 of 1757	5.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	31.2	1263 of 1712	26.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	32.1	1176 of 1626	27.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	32.3	1145 of 1597	28.3%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	18.4	1580 of 1743	9.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	35.2	1025 of 1439	28.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	19.9	1541 of 1733	11.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	13.2	1634 of 1749	6.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	10.3	1658 of 1723	3.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	26.8	1392 of 1700	18.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	11.5	1614 of 1684	4.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	17.6	1534 of 1673	8.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Pacific Islander (2026)78th percentile+70 vs school

Special Education (2026)36th percentile+27 vs school

English Language Learner (2026)25th percentile+17 vs school

African American (2026)14th percentile+6 vs school

At Risk (2022)13th percentile+6 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2023)11th percentile+4 vs school

White (2026)9th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)8th percentile~ school

Male (2026)8th percentile~ school

Female (2026)8th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2026)8th percentile~ school

Asian (2024)3rd percentile-6 vs school

Multi-racial (2025)2nd percentile-6 vs school

By subject vs Texas (2025-2026) ?

Algebra I88%+33 vs state

Reading30%-25 vs state

Mathematics19%-20 vs state

Social Studies10%-22 vs state

★

No ratings yet

Be the first to rate Palo Alto Middle and help other families decide.

Rate Palo Alto Middle

Have first-hand experience? A quick rating - and a sentence or two about what stands out (teachers, academics, safety, communication) - helps other families know what to expect.

Takes about a minute. We email you a link to verify your review - your address is never shown publicly.

Tap a star to rate

Reviews

No written reviews yet. If you know this school, be the first to share what stands out.

Schools Near Palo Alto Middle

Load more schools when map is moved

Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				STAAR EOC Algebra I (2026)	STAAR Reading (2026)			STAAR Mathematics (2026)			STAAR Social Studies (2026)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/reduced lunch (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	STAAR EOC Algebra I End of Course	STAAR Reading 6th Grade	STAAR Reading 7th Grade	STAAR Reading 8th Grade	STAAR Mathematics 6th Grade	STAAR Mathematics 7th Grade	STAAR Mathematics 8th Grade	STAAR Social Studies 8th Grade	Total
Palo Alto Middle	Public	6-8	2301 W Elms Rd	Killeen	76549	Bell County	Killeen Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(254) 336-1200	781	48	16.3	76.7%	74 (9.5%)	390 (49.9%)	243 (31.1%)	12 (1.5%)	2 (0.3%)	18 (2.3%)	42 (5.4%)	16.2	2155^th of 2359 public middle schools	8.6%		14.3	2166^th of 2344 public middle schools	7.6%	11	87.5	32.9	21.9	36.5	20.8	16.9	21.3	9.9	$10,831
Live Oak Ridge Middle	Public	6-8	2600 Robinett Rd	Killeen	76549	Bell County	Killeen Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(254) 336-2490	676	39	17.5	68.3%	44 (6.5%)	304 (45.0%)	226 (33.4%)	12 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (3.6%)	66 (9.8%)	24.9	1916^th of 2359 public middle schools	18.8%		17.2	2100^th of 2344 public middle schools	10.4%	184	82.8	34.5	37.7	47.2	22.8	27.4	22.9	12.0	$10,562
Roy J Smith Middle	Public	6-8	6000 Brushy Creek Dr	Killeen	76549	Bell County	Killeen Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	No	(254) 336-1050	1,135	65	17.3	57.8%	145 (12.8%)	408 (35.9%)	400 (35.2%)	35 (3.1%)	6 (0.5%)	23 (2.0%)	118 (10.4%)	42.2	1325^th of 2359 public middle schools	43.8%		40.1	1399^th of 2344 public middle schools	40.3%	74	98.9	46.9	51.5	51.4	29.6	29.6	44.9	22.3	$8,971
Manor Middle	Public	6-8	1700 S W S Young Dr	Killeen	76543	Bell County	Killeen Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(254) 336-1310	592	41	14.3	73.3%	83 (14.0%)	203 (34.3%)	237 (40.0%)	5 (0.8%)	3 (0.5%)	12 (2.0%)	49 (8.3%)	19.1	2089^th of 2359 public middle schools	11.4%		14.3	2165^th of 2344 public middle schools	7.6%	76	68.8	42.9	33.1	29.1	20.4	20.0	18.6	12.6	$12,209
Charles E Patterson Middle	Public	6-8	8383 W Trimmier Rd	Killeen	76542	Bell County	Killeen Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	No	(254) 336-7100	746	48	15.5	57.1%	102 (13.7%)	291 (39.0%)	233 (31.2%)	33 (4.4%)	2 (0.3%)	15 (2.0%)	70 (9.4%)	33.7	1620^th of 2359 public middle schools	31.3%		33.5	1603^rd of 2344 public middle schools	31.6%	17	66.2	43.1	36.7	49.6	25.4	25.8	26.4	30.2	$9,413
Gateway Middle	Public	6-8	1307 Gowen Dr	Killeen	76543	Bell County	Killeen Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	No	(254) 336-1690	48	15	3.2	79.2%	3 (6.3%)	27 (56.3%)	11 (22.9%)	1 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (4.2%)	4 (8.3%)								(n/a)			0.0			0.0			$36,981
Liberty Hill Middle	Public	6-8	4500 Kit Carson Trl	Killeen	76542	Bell County	Killeen Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	No	(254) 336-1370	674	42	16.1	61.0%	93 (13.8%)	274 (40.7%)	211 (31.3%)	13 (1.9%)	2 (0.3%)	17 (2.5%)	64 (9.5%)	25.6	1884^th of 2359 public middle schools	20.1%		38.3	1446^th of 2344 public middle schools	38.3%	438	86.9	35.0	34.8	46.1	25.6	31.0	14.6	16.0	$10,658
Audie Murphy Middle	Public	6-8	53393 Sun Dance Dr	Fort Hood	76544	Coryell County	Killeen Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	No	(254) 336-6530	768	44	17.4	51.3%	229 (29.8%)	184 (24.0%)	259 (33.7%)	10 (1.3%)	2 (0.3%)	15 (2.0%)	69 (9.0%)	38.7	1445^th of 2359 public middle schools	38.7%		40.3	1390^th of 2344 public middle schools	40.7%	55	100.0	42.8	47.3	48.9	27.1	33.6	29.5	29.4	$9,441
Rancier Middle	Public	6-8	3301 Hilliard Ave	Killeen	76543	Bell County	Killeen Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(254) 336-1250	735	43	17.1	80.0%	80 (10.9%)	261 (35.5%)	321 (43.7%)	2 (0.3%)	3 (0.4%)	15 (2.0%)	53 (7.2%)	24.5	1933^rd of 2359 public middle schools	18.1%		15.8	2134^th of 2344 public middle schools	9.0%	201	91.4	43.0	36.0	33.2	22.0	21.8	38.4	9.1	$11,194
Dr Jimmie Don Aycock Middle	Public	6-8	5360 Chaparral Rd	Killeen	76542	Bell County	Killeen Independent School District (Isd)	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(254) 336-3300	557	29	19.0	50.3%	96 (17.2%)	198 (35.5%)	163 (29.3%)	13 (2.3%)	2 (0.4%)	16 (2.9%)	69 (12.4%)	42.6	1307^th of 2359 public middle schools	44.6%					(n/a)	82.9	53.4	49.8	49.7	28.1	33.6	17.9	28.7	$00

Frequently Asked Questions about Palo Alto Middle

What district is Palo Alto Middle in?

Killeen Independent School District (Isd)

How many students attend Palo Alto Middle?

In the 2024-25 school year, 781 students attended Palo Alto Middle.

Is Palo Alto Middle a good school?

Palo Alto Middle ranks in the bottom 8.6% of Texas middle schools.

What high school do graduates of Palo Alto Middle attend?

Students who attend Palo Alto Middle usually go on to attend Robert M Shoemaker High School

What is the racial makeup of Palo Alto Middle?

Students at Palo Alto Middle are 50% African American, 31% Hispanic, 9% White, 5% Two or more races, 2% Pacific Islander, 2% Asian.

Rate Palo Alto Middle!

Other helpful SchoolDigger resources...

Compare to nearby schools

TXTexas Middle School Rankings

TXTexas District Rankings

Schools in Killeen, TX

Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Palo Alto Middle!

Latest Texas data All new data »

2015–16 through 2025–26 immunization rates (updated)Oct 20, 2026

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesSep 30, 2026

2025–26 STAAR, STAAR EOC & STAAR Spanish test scoresJun 12, 2026

2021–22 through 2023–24 school spending dataJan 10, 2026

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.