Summary:
There are three middle schools serving grades 6-8 in zip code 76549 in Killeen, Texas, all part of the Killeen Independent School District (Isd), which serves a combined enrollment of 2,592 students and faces significant economic challenges, with free or reduced lunch rates ranging from 57.8% to 76.7%.
Roy J Smith Middle is the standout school in the area, earning a 2-star rating and ranking in the 44th percentile statewide, far outperforming its peers. It boasts the highest academic scores across nearly all subjects, including a remarkable 98.89% proficiency rate in Algebra I, which is nearly double the district and state averages. It also has the lowest dropout rate at 0.3% and the lowest spending per student at $7,769. In contrast, Palo Alto Middle has the highest spending per student ($9,321) and the lowest student-teacher ratio (16.3), yet it ranks in the 8th percentile with the lowest test scores and the highest dropout rate at 2.5%. Live Oak Ridge Middle falls in the middle, with a 1-star rating and 19th percentile ranking, showing moderate performance across metrics.
A key takeaway is that higher spending does not guarantee better results, as Roy J Smith Middle achieves the best outcomes with the least funding. All three schools struggle significantly in 8th Grade Social Studies, with proficiency rates well below the state average of 31.69%, ranging from 9.86% to 22.26%. Additionally, the high Algebra I proficiency rates across all schools suggest that only advanced students take the exam, creating a stark gap between this elite group and the general student body. Roy J Smith Middle is on an upward trajectory, improving from the 41st to the 44th percentile in recent years, making it the strongest choice for families in this zip code.
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