Summary:
This analysis examines five middle schools (Grades 6-8) in the 77327 zip code of Cleveland, Texas, serving approximately 3,847 students across three districts: Cleveland Independent School District (Isd), International Leadership Of Texas (Iltexas), and Tarkington Independent School District (Isd).
Tarkington Middle is the standout performer, ranking in the 26th percentile statewide—far above the other four schools, which all rank in the bottom 6th percentile or lower. For example, in 8th Grade Reading, Tarkington achieved 53.08% proficiency, nearly double the next best school (Cleveland Middle at 31.06%). Tarkington also has a significantly lower free/reduced lunch rate (54.01%) compared to the 91-96% range at the other schools. In contrast, Santa Fe Middle and Iltexas Msg Ramirez Middle are the lowest-performing, ranking in the bottom 4th percentile. A surprising finding is the "Algebra I Anomaly": while all schools struggle with grade-level math, advanced 8th graders at Cleveland Middle (62.07%) and Santa Fe Middle (70.15%) dramatically outperformed their district averages on the Algebra I End-of-Course exam, suggesting strong preparation for a select group of students.
Mathematics is the weakest subject across all five schools, with 7th Grade Math proficiency rates as low as 3.30% at Santa Fe Middle and 5.16% at Cleveland Middle. The International Leadership Of Texas (Iltexas) district ranks in the 39th percentile overall, but its two middle schools in this zip code (Iltexas Msg Ramirez Middle and Iltexas Bg Ramirez Middle) rank in the bottom 6th percentile, indicating these schools underperform relative to the charter network's other campuses. Overall, the data reveals a stark contrast between the high-poverty Cleveland ISD schools and the more moderate-poverty Tarkington ISD, highlighting the significant impact of socioeconomic factors on academic outcomes.
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