Best Middle Schools in Zip Code 75209

Zip code 75209 in Dallas is home to two exceptional middle schools, Henry W Longfellow Career Exploration Academy and Sudie L Williams Talented And Gifted Academy, both part of the Dallas Independent School District (Isd) and serving grades 6-8 and 4-8 respectively.

Both schools are standout performers, consistently ranking in the top 2% of Texas middle schools. Sudie L Williams Talented And Gifted Academy is the clear leader, ranked 4th in the state (100th percentile) with near-perfect STAAR test scores—99.8% reading and 97.8% math proficiency. Henry W Longfellow Career Exploration Academy is also exceptional, ranked 45th (98th percentile) with 94.5% reading and 74.6% math proficiency. Both schools dramatically outperform district and state averages, which hover around 50% proficiency. A key difference is socioeconomic: Longfellow serves a population where 78% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch, while Williams has only 14% in that category. Despite this, Longfellow achieves a 0.0% dropout rate, compared to Williams’ 3.4%—a surprising reversal given Williams’ higher test scores. Williams also spends about $1,000 more per student ($10,895 vs. $9,932) and has a slightly lower student-teacher ratio (17.2:1 vs. 19.5:1).

For parents, the choice depends on priorities. Sudie L Williams offers the highest academic performance in the state, ideal for families seeking a gifted-focused environment. Henry W Longfellow provides outstanding results with a career exploration focus and a remarkable record of keeping all students on track, despite serving a more economically diverse population. Both schools have maintained their top rankings for three consecutive years, proving sustained excellence. The district itself is rated 3 stars (54th percentile), making these schools clear outliers in a system where they far exceed typical performance.