Summary
De La Paz Middle in Riviera, TX, is a small, rural school serving 101 students in grades 6-8 within the highly-rated Riviera Independent School District (Isd), and it stands out for its remarkable ability to accelerate student learning from 6th to 8th grade. While 6th graders often start below the state average in reading and math, the school consistently closes the gap, with 8th graders achieving 82.86% proficiency in reading (a 41-point gain) and 54.17% in math (a 25-point gain), far exceeding typical state progress. This "value-add" approach makes the school a strong choice for families seeking a supportive environment that helps students catch up and thrive, especially in advanced math—where 90.91% of test-takers were proficient in Algebra I, dramatically outperforming the state average of 54.03%.
However, the school faces notable challenges. Social studies is a persistent weakness, with only 11.43% of 8th graders proficient compared to the state's 31.69%, a trend that has held for four years. Additionally, performance for special education students is highly volatile, swinging from the 89th percentile one year to the 10th the next, signaling a need for more consistent support. A significant gender gap also exists, with male students ranking in the 71st percentile statewide versus females at the 55th percentile, a pattern worth exploring with the school.
Compared to nearby Ricardo Middle—just 9 miles away with a similar enrollment and low-income rate—De La Paz lags in nearly every subject, such as 8th-grade math (54.17% vs. 78.18%) and social studies (11.43% vs. 47.95%). This suggests that while De La Paz is effective at growth, there are actionable strategies from Ricardo that could close the gap. Despite these areas for improvement, the school maintains a perfect 0% dropout rate and ranks in the 64th percentile statewide, making it a solid, growth-focused option for Riviera families.
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