Summary:
In zip code 75041, there is one middle school, Sam Houston Middle, serving grades 6 through 8 in the Garland Independent School District (Isd), an area where nearly 90% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.
Sam Houston Middle presents a stark contrast in academic performance. The school has consistently ranked in the bottom 15% of Texas middle schools (11th-14th percentile) for three years, earning a 1-star rating. Overall test scores in reading, general math, and social studies are significantly below state averages. For instance, only 9.56% of 8th graders are proficient in social studies, compared to 31.69% statewide. However, the school is a standout in advanced mathematics: 92.31% of students taking the Algebra I End-of-Course exam are proficient, a 38-point lead over the state average. This "Algebra I Paradox" suggests the school is highly selective in placing students into advanced math, where they excel, while the majority of students in standard classes struggle.
The school's high poverty rate (89.81% free/reduced lunch) is a critical context for its low overall scores. Despite a favorable student-teacher ratio of 13.3:1 and spending over $10,000 per student, the school shows no upward trend in performance over three years. The dropout rate of 1.0% is slightly better than the district average. For parents, the key takeaway is that Sam Houston Middle offers an exceptional advanced math track for select students, but the majority of students face significant academic challenges, particularly in social studies and general math, with no signs of improvement.
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