Schimelpfenig Middle

Schimelpfenig Middle in Plano, TX, serves 826 students in grades 6-8 and is a high-performing school within the Plano Independent School District (Isd), known for its consistent academic excellence and efficient use of resources.

Schimelpfenig stands out for its extraordinary performance in advanced mathematics, with nearly all students (99.31% in 2024-2025) proficient on the Algebra I End-of-Course exam—far exceeding district and state averages. This achievement rivals top schools in the neighboring Frisco Independent School District (Isd), such as Fowler Middle. However, the school has experienced a notable recent decline in its overall state ranking, dropping from the 97th to the 89th percentile in the 2025-2026 school year. This drop is widespread across student subgroups, including Hispanic, English Language Learner, and low socio-economic status students, suggesting a systemic issue rather than an isolated problem. In contrast, nearby schools like Rice Middle and Robinson Middle maintained or improved their high rankings. Despite this, Schimelpfenig continues to outperform district averages in most subjects, such as 8th-grade Reading (78.17% vs. 71.16%) and Math (79.02% vs. 63.81%).

A consistent challenge is the "7th Grade Math Slump," where only 28.03% of 7th graders were proficient in 2025-2026, compared to higher rates in 6th and 8th grades—a more pronounced drop than district trends. On a positive note, the school excels in supporting Special Education students, who ranked in the 94th percentile statewide. Additionally, Schimelpfenig achieves top results with lower per-student spending ($8,312) than many lower-performing peers like Bowman Middle ($9,212) and Carpenter Middle ($10,299), indicating strong leadership and resource efficiency. While the recent ranking decline warrants monitoring, Schimelpfenig remains a strong academic choice within Plano ISD.