Summary:
This analysis examines three middle schools serving grades 6-8 in the 75040 zip code of Garland, Texas, all part of the Garland Independent School District (Isd), revealing a dramatic range in academic performance and student demographics within a single geographic area.
The standout performer is Austin Academy For Excell, which ranks in the 93rd percentile statewide with a 5-star rating, placing it among the top 7% of Texas middle schools. In contrast, Bussey Middle ranks in the 9th percentile with a 0-star rating, making it one of the lowest-performing schools in the state. Sellers Middle falls in the middle, ranking in the 37th percentile with a 2-star rating. The disparity is stark: in 8th Grade Reading, Austin Academy achieves 83.13% proficiency versus just 26.47% at Bussey, while the state average is 58.69%. Similarly, in 8th Grade Math, Austin Academy scores 58.02% compared to Bussey's 20.10%, against a state average of 47.24%.
A surprising finding is the "Algebra I Paradox": all three schools perform exceptionally well on the Algebra I End-of-Course exam, with proficiency rates of 89.22% at Austin Academy, 88.31% at Sellers, and 86.46% at Bussey—all far exceeding the state average of 54.03%. This suggests that advanced students at every school are highly capable. Additionally, the school with the lowest performance (Bussey) has the highest per-student spending ($10,240), while the top performer (Austin) has the lowest ($9,001), indicating that funding alone does not determine outcomes. The data shows a clear correlation between economic disadvantage and performance, with Austin Academy having 51.31% free/reduced lunch students versus 93.63% at Bussey, highlighting how a family's address within 75040 can determine whether their child attends a 5-star or a 0-star school.
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