Summary
Gilbert Gerdes J H in Luling, TX, serves 306 students in grades 6-8 within the Luling Independent School District (Isd), a high-poverty community where over 82% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. The school has shown a positive trajectory, improving from a low 8th percentile ranking to its current 31st percentile, though it still performs below state averages in most subjects.
The school's standout strength is its Algebra I program: in 2024-2025, 94.44% of students taking the exam were proficient, nearly double the state average and far exceeding nearby schools like Navarro J H (86.49%) and Lockhart J H (95.7%). However, this success contrasts sharply with grade-level math performance—only 3.51% of 7th graders were proficient in 2025-2026, the lowest among peers like Gonzales J H (28.78%). The school also excels with English Language Learners, jumping from the 19th to 75th percentile in just two years, a rapid improvement not seen at nearby schools. Yet, persistent challenges remain: 8th-grade Social Studies proficiency is just 13.33%, less than half the state average, and the school's per-student spending ($9,752) is moderate despite its high poverty rate, compared to Gonzales J H ($10,412) with lower poverty.
Compared to Jim Barnes Middle in Seguin, a demographically similar school (70% free/reduced lunch) ranked in the 10th percentile, Gilbert Gerdes outperforms in nearly every subject, suggesting its strategies are having a positive effect. However, it still lags behind wealthier schools like Navarro J H (41.64% free/reduced lunch, 60th percentile) in core areas like 6th-grade math (34.09% vs. 45.6%). The school's overall improvement is encouraging, but targeted support in grade-level math and Social Studies is needed to close the gap with state averages and nearby districts.
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