Summary
R Q Sims Intermediate in Mexia, TX, serves 428 students in grades 3 through 5 within the Mexia Independent School District (Isd), a district ranked in the bottom 12% of Texas school districts. The school faces significant challenges, with nearly 80% of its students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, and it has consistently ranked in the bottom 15% of Texas elementary schools over the past decade.
The most pressing academic concerns are in mathematics and science. In the 2025-2026 school year, math proficiency rates were critically low, dropping from 32.5% in 3rd grade to just 18.5% in 5th grade—roughly 29 percentage points below the state average. Science proficiency is even more alarming, with only 8.8% of 5th graders meeting standards, compared to the state average of 29.6%. These scores are the lowest among nearby schools; for example, Teague Elementary, just 12.5 miles away, achieved a 70% math proficiency rate for 3rd graders and ranks in the 88th percentile statewide. This stark contrast, known as the "Teague Effect," shows that similar rural schools with high economic disadvantage can achieve much better outcomes, suggesting that instructional methods and resource allocation at R Q Sims may need significant improvement.
Despite these challenges, there are a few positive signs. The school's overall rank has slightly improved, moving from the 8th percentile to the 12th percentile in the most recent year. Additionally, Multi-racial students have shown notable progress, ranking in the 32nd percentile in 2025-2026, up from the 9th percentile in prior years. However, performance for Special Education and Gifted and Talented students has been inconsistent, indicating a need for more stable programming. With per-student spending ($10,574) lower than higher-performing peers like Fairfield Intermediate ($11,964), the school may be under-resourced relative to the challenges it faces, but the recent upward trend offers a glimmer of hope for families seeking improvement.
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