Best Middle Schools in Zip Code 75154

The two middle schools in zip code 75154, Red Oak Middle and Curtistene S McCowan Middle, serve grades 6-8 in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and present a clear contrast in performance and resources. Red Oak Middle, part of Red Oak Independent School District (Isd), is the larger and higher-performing school with 1,488 students and a 2-star rating, ranking in the 33rd percentile statewide. In contrast, Curtistene S McCowan Middle, under Desoto Independent School District (Isd), serves 643 students with a 1-star rating and ranks in the 13th percentile, indicating significant academic challenges.

A standout finding is the exceptional performance in Algebra I at both schools, despite struggles in standard math. At Red Oak Middle, 77.42% of students are proficient in Algebra I, far exceeding the state average of 54.03%, while Curtistene S McCowan Middle achieves 64.71% proficiency. However, 7th-grade math proficiency is critically low at both schools—just 3.65% at Red Oak and 6.25% at McCowan—suggesting a systemic weakness in standard math curriculum that is offset by strong advanced programs. Additionally, Curtistene S McCowan Middle shows a severe weakness in 8th-grade Social Studies, with only 8.97% proficiency compared to the state average of 31.69%.

Resource allocation differs notably: Curtistene S McCowan Middle spends $8,973 per student, $833 more than Red Oak Middle's $8,140, yet has worse outcomes across most subjects. This may be linked to a higher student-teacher ratio of 22.6 at McCowan versus 17.1 at Red Oak, and a larger economically disadvantaged population (78.54% vs. 62.7%). Red Oak Middle has shown a slow decline in its percentile rank over three years, while Curtistene S McCowan Middle remains consistently low, indicating persistent challenges that require targeted intervention.