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Merkel Middle

Q: Is Merkel Middle a good school?

Merkel Middle ranks 1376 th of 2335 Texas middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

1376^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,335 Texas Middle Schools

Better than 41% of Texas middle schools

Summary

Merkel Middle in Merkel, TX, serves 246 students in grades 6-8 within the Merkel Independent School District (Isd), a small rural district where about 41-45% of students are economically disadvantaged. This school stands out for its exceptional performance in 8th-grade science, consistently outperforming the state average by 10 to 20 percentage points over the last three years—a stark contrast to nearby Craig Middle, Mann Middle, Madison Middle, and Clack Middle in the Abilene Independent School District (Isd), which all score well below state averages in science. However, the school faces a significant challenge in 7th-grade math, where only 6.25% of students were proficient in the most recent testing year, compared to the state average of 29.41%.

Merkel Middle offers a favorable student-to-teacher ratio of 9.2:1, much lower than the 13.2:1 and 16.9:1 ratios at Wylie East J H and Wylie West J H in the Wylie Independent School District (Isd), and the district invests heavily at $11,687 per student—higher than both Wylie and Abilene ISD schools. Despite these resources, academic results are inconsistent, with the school's overall ranking swinging between the 26th and 55th percentiles over the past decade. Notably, the school has shown a "bounce-back" pattern, where a poor year is often followed by improvement, though the most recent drop from the 55th to the 41st percentile is concerning.

In terms of student subgroups, Merkel Middle has made impressive gains with its Special Education students, jumping from the 14th percentile to the 64th percentile over three years, suggesting targeted interventions are working. However, performance with White students has declined to the 22nd percentile, and economically disadvantaged students have dropped to the 28th percentile. Compared to its closest peer, Hawley Middle in the Hawley Independent School District (Isd), which has a similar free/reduced lunch rate and overall ranking, Merkel's strength in science gives it a clear edge. Overall, Merkel Middle is a school with notable strengths in science and small class sizes, but it struggles with consistency in math and serving all student groups effectively.

246

Students ?

9.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$10,653

Per pupil spending ?

41.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

302 Ash
Merkel, TX 79536

(325) 928-5511

District: Merkel Independent School District (Isd)

Students who attend Merkel Middle usually attend:

High:

Merkel High School

Feeder schools for Merkel Middle:

Elementary:

Merkel Elementary

Racial breakdown:

White:

66.7%

Hispanic:

28.5%

Two or more races:

4.1%

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Compare Merkel Middle to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Recently slipping — 55th percentile in 2025 → 41st in 2026

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 9 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Texas average (38% vs 45% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped from its 55th-percentile peak (2025) to 41st (2026)

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school38%

District avg38%

Texas avg45%

1,376^th of 2,335

Texas public middle schools ?

Bottom 41%▲ up 15 pts since 2016

From bottom 26% (2016) to bottom 41% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Texas Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

535^th of 951Merkel 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	40.9	1376 of 2335	41.1%	★★☆☆☆
2025	50.5	1060 of 2344	54.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	42.2	1332 of 2372	43.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	47.6	1131 of 2330	51.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	40.1	1325 of 2254	41.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	45.4	1145 of 2252	49.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	29.2	1630 of 2193	25.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	33.1	1435 of 2080	31.0%	★★☆☆☆
2017	33.8	1376 of 2027	32.1%	★★☆☆☆
2016	33.4	1478 of 1987	25.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	49.0	1121 of 2043	45.1%	★★☆☆☆
2014	57.2	859 of 1987	56.8%	★★★☆☆
2013	64.9	629 of 1973	68.1%	★★★☆☆
2012	54.2	929 of 1951	52.4%	★★★☆☆
2011	56.7	916 of 1895	51.7%	★★★☆☆
2010	49.2	1102 of 1803	38.9%	★★☆☆☆
2009	46.1	1130 of 1763	35.9%	★★☆☆☆
2008	49.5	1013 of 1718	41.0%	★★☆☆☆
2007	49.5	971 of 1684	42.3%	★★☆☆☆
2006	49.7	895 of 1585	43.5%	★★☆☆☆
2005	45.0	987 of 1582	37.6%	★★☆☆☆
2004	45.8	991 of 1573	37.0%	★★☆☆☆

At Risk

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2022	33.5	1553 of 2182	28.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	43.9	1076 of 2118	49.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	31.0	1554 of 2058	24.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	33.0	1457 of 2008	27.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	40.9	1304 of 2240	41.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	55.3	704 of 1825	61.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	39.1	1366 of 2242	39.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	49.5	1030 of 2241	54.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	48.4	1048 of 2221	52.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	44.4	1141 of 2151	47.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	31.4	1507 of 2047	26.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	30.3	1506 of 2008	25.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	60.1	695 of 1497	53.6%	★★★☆☆
2025	55.7	652 of 1230	47.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	26.3	1280 of 1481	13.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	53.2	843 of 1501	43.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	33.6	1154 of 1446	20.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	33.2	1136 of 1430	20.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	36.8	1408 of 2141	34.2%	★★☆☆☆
2025	52.3	714 of 1731	58.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	47.5	1007 of 2119	52.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	41.0	1255 of 2116	40.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	35.1	1388 of 2077	33.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	40.7	1180 of 2043	42.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	33.1	1374 of 1935	29.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	30.6	1432 of 1895	24.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	33.7	1615 of 2253	28.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	37.2	1171 of 1820	35.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	39.2	1349 of 2235	39.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	62.2	646 of 2251	71.3%	★★★★☆
2022	36.6	1469 of 2220	33.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	43.5	1188 of 2172	45.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	33.8	1495 of 2073	27.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	27.5	1675 of 2039	17.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	40.3	1333 of 2253	40.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	47.3	875 of 1818	51.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	41.3	1273 of 2246	43.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	43.8	1219 of 2245	45.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	31.5	1595 of 2228	28.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	46.1	1091 of 2168	49.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	25.9	1659 of 2069	19.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	34.1	1369 of 2030	32.6%	★★☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	17.2	732 of 806	9.2%	☆☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	50.6	704 of 1956	64.0%	★★★☆☆
2025	37.1	1038 of 1568	33.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	23.9	1633 of 1891	13.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	37.6	1096 of 1815	39.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	31.3	1311 of 1757	25.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	68.3	240 of 1712	86.0%	★★★★☆
2018	40.5	847 of 1597	47.0%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	29.5	1350 of 1731	22.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	38.4	964 of 1439	33.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	23.5	1476 of 1733	14.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	35.2	1250 of 1749	28.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	26.8	1399 of 1723	18.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	27.6	1380 of 1700	18.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	15.1	1568 of 1684	6.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	22.7	1433 of 1673	14.3%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Special Education (2026)64th percentile+23 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2026)54th percentile+13 vs school

Female (2026)42nd percentile~ school

Male (2026)41st percentile~ school

Hispanic (2026)34th percentile-7 vs school

At Risk (2022)29th percentile-12 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)28th percentile-13 vs school

White (2026)22nd percentile-19 vs school

Multi-racial (2026)9th percentile-32 vs school

By subject vs Texas (2025-2026) ?

Reading52%-3 vs state

Mathematics28%-12 vs state

Social Studies28%-4 vs state

★

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Schools Near Merkel Middle

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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/Discounted Lunch Recipients	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 5th Grade	STAAR Reading 6th Grade	STAAR Reading 7th Grade	STAAR Reading 8th Grade	STAAR Mathematics 5th Grade	STAAR Mathematics 6th Grade	STAAR Mathematics 7th Grade	STAAR Mathematics 8th Grade	STAAR Social Studies 8th Grade	Total
Merkel Middle	Public	6-8	302 Ash	Merkel	79536	Taylor County	Merkel Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	No	(325) 928-5511	246	27	9.2	41.5%	164 (66.7%)	2 (0.8%)	70 (28.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (4.1%)	40.9	1376^th of 2335 public middle schools	41.1%		50.5	1060^th of 2344 public middle schools	54.8%	316			53.6	45.2	60.9		33.3	6.3	37.8	27.5	$10,653
Clack Middle	Public	6-8	1610 Corsicana Ave	Abilene	79605	Taylor County	Abilene Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	No	(325) 692-1961	693	49	14.0	68.1%	183 (26.4%)	131 (18.9%)	317 (45.7%)	22 (3.2%)	4 (0.6%)	4 (0.6%)	32 (4.6%)	20.4	2033^rd of 2335 public middle schools	12.9%		22.9	1947^th of 2344 public middle schools	16.9%	86	84.3		40.7	34.4	41.2		17.3	9.1	32.0	11.5	$8,455
Mann Middle	Public	6-8	2545 Mimosa Dr	Abilene	79603	Taylor County	Abilene Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	No	(325) 672-8493	776	48	16.0	68.0%	204 (26.3%)	106 (13.7%)	430 (55.4%)	5 (0.6%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	28 (3.6%)	30	1723^rd of 2335 public middle schools	26.2%		23.8	1920^th of 2344 public middle schools	18.1%	197	77.5		44.0	40.9	48.3		23.6	9.4	35.8	22.9	$8,519
Hawley Middle	Public	6-8	250 Ave H	Hawley	79525	Jones County	Hawley Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(325) 537-2070	193	22	8.8	42.0%	143 (74.1%)	0 (0.0%)	47 (24.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.6%)	46.3	1165^th of 2335 public middle schools	50.1%		48.7	1121^st of 2344 public middle schools	52.2%	44	62.5		29.6	64.6	59.7		21.1	37.5	40.0	32.3	$9,834
Madison Middle	Public	6-8	3145 Barrow St	Abilene	79605	Taylor County	Abilene Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	No	(325) 692-5661	770	48	15.9	59.9%	308 (40.0%)	64 (8.3%)	347 (45.1%)	13 (1.7%)	4 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (4.4%)	29.2	1751^st of 2335 public middle schools	25.0%		26.1	1858^th of 2344 public middle schools	20.7%	107	74.1		46.5	41.0	45.9		24.7	8.4	34.5	19.9	$8,229
Wylie West J H	Public	5-8	4134 Beltway S	Abilene	79606	Taylor County	Wylie Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	No	(325) 695-1910	1,038	61	16.9	19.7%	638 (61.5%)	56 (5.4%)	242 (23.3%)	46 (4.4%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.2%)	53 (5.1%)	82	290^th of 2335 public middle schools	87.6%		82.3	288^th of 2344 public middle schools	87.7%	2	100.0	67.6	70.7	68.2	79.2	65.0	51.0	37.0	70.0	47.4	$7,072
Craig Middle	Public	6-8	702 S Judge Ely Blvd	Abilene	79601	Taylor County	Abilene Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	No	(325) 794-4100	771	54	14.3	69.0%	240 (31.1%)	135 (17.5%)	353 (45.8%)	9 (1.2%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	32 (4.2%)	35.4	1551^st of 2335 public middle schools	33.6%		34.9	1559^th of 2344 public middle schools	33.5%	8	96.9		49.2	39.5	46.4		35.2	4.0	41.2	26.2	$9,009
Wylie East J H	Public	6-8	1682 Colony Hill Rd	Abilene	79602	Taylor County	Wylie Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	No	(325) 437-2360	540	41	13.2	24.1%	328 (60.7%)	26 (4.8%)	141 (26.1%)	10 (1.9%)	5 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (5.6%)	76.5	385^th of 2335 public middle schools	83.5%		74.3	442^nd of 2344 public middle schools	81.1%	57	100.0		64.4	64.9	69.1		48.6	43.1	63.9	46.1	$8,770

Frequently Asked Questions about Merkel Middle

What is the racial makeup of Merkel Middle?

Students at Merkel Middle are 67% White, 28% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races.

What district is Merkel Middle in?

Merkel Independent School District (Isd)

How many students attend Merkel Middle?

In the 2024-25 school year, 246 students attended Merkel Middle.

What high school do graduates of Merkel Middle attend?

Students who attend Merkel Middle usually go on to attend Merkel High School

Is Merkel Middle a good school?

Merkel Middle ranks 1376^th of 2335 Texas middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Rate Merkel Middle!

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Latest Texas data All new data »

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

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

2023–24 dropout rates & graduation ratesSep 17, 2025

2024–25 STAAR EOC & STAAR Spanish test scoresJun 23, 2025

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.