Summary:
This analysis examines six middle schools (Grades 6-8) located in the 77449 zip code of Katy, Texas, which are served by three different districts: Katy Independent School District (Isd), Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District (Isd), and Calvin Nelms Charter Schools.
The clear academic standout in the area is Calvin Nelms Middle, a charter school that, despite being the smallest with 160 students and having the highest student-to-teacher ratio, earns a 5-star rating and ranks in the 82nd percentile statewide. Among the traditional public schools, Stockdick J H leads the pack with a 65th percentile state ranking, the lowest percentage of economically disadvantaged students, and a 0.0% dropout rate. In contrast, Thornton Middle (Cypress-Fairbanks ISD) faces the most significant challenges, with the lowest state ranking (29th percentile), the highest rate of students on free/reduced lunch, and the only dropout rate in the group. The other Katy ISD schools—Morton Ranch J H, T H McDonald J H, and Cardiff J H—cluster in the 50th to 57th percentile range.
A key takeaway is that higher spending does not guarantee better results; Cardiff J H spends the most per student ($11,739) but ranks lower than Stockdick J H, which spends $2,895 less. All schools show exceptional strength in Algebra I, far exceeding the state average, yet most struggle with grade-level math proficiency. Science performance is a key differentiator, with only Calvin Nelms Middle and Stockdick J H exceeding the state average in 8th-grade Science.
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