Westwood J H

Westwood J H is a small middle school in Palestine, TX, serving 200 students in grades 7-8 as part of the Westwood Independent School District (Isd), which ranks in the bottom 5% of Texas districts.

Academically, Westwood J H faces significant challenges, particularly in math and social studies. In the 2025-2026 school year, only about 11-14% of students were proficient in math, which is less than half the state average and far below nearby schools like Cayuga Middle (where 40-80% of students are proficient) and Palestine J H (where 37% of 7th graders are proficient). Social studies is an even greater concern, with only 4.5% of 8th graders proficient—a 27-point gap from the state average. Despite these struggles, the school shows a bright spot in Algebra I, where 97% of test-takers were proficient in 2022-2023, outperforming the state average. This suggests that a small group of high-achieving students is well-supported, while the majority of students are not receiving the same level of instruction.

Westwood J H spends more per student ($13,545) than higher-performing neighbors like Elkhart Middle ($10,046), indicating that funding alone is not the issue. With about 80% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, the school faces significant economic challenges, but the comparison to Palestine J H—which serves a similarly disadvantaged population yet achieves much better math scores—suggests that instructional strategies and curriculum need a comprehensive review. The school maintains a low student-to-teacher ratio of 10.3:1, which could be leveraged for more targeted interventions to help all students succeed.