Summary
Jose Borrego Middle in Monte Alto, TX, is a small, rural school serving 178 students in grades 6-8 within the Monte Alto Independent School District (Isd), where nearly 90% of students come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
This school shows a fascinating split in math performance. Seventh-grade math is a standout strength, with 36.36% of students proficient—higher than the state average and the best rate among all nearby schools, including Lyford Middle (33.72%). However, sixth and eighth-grade math are areas of serious concern. Only 19.64% of sixth graders and 10.53% of eighth graders are proficient, with the eighth-grade rate being the lowest in the region. This is a "tale of two math programs," and the school's future success likely hinges on replicating the seventh-grade approach across all grades. On a positive note, the school invests heavily in small class sizes, with a student-to-teacher ratio of 10.3:1, tied for the lowest in the comparison group, and spends $13,637 per student—more than larger peers like Beatriz G Garza Middle ($9,870).
While the school has shown an upward trajectory, climbing from the 9th percentile in 2016 to the 30th percentile recently, progress has been uneven. A bright spot is its work with English Language Learners, where it ranks in the 37th and 39th percentiles over the last two years. However, the school's ability to serve its low-income students has sharply declined, dropping to the 8th percentile in the most recent data. Compared to Lyford Middle, a similarly sized rural school, Jose Borrego outperforms in seventh-grade math and reading across all grades, despite facing higher levels of economic disadvantage. This suggests pockets of excellence that, if expanded, could lead to more consistent improvement.
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