Summary:
There are two public middle schools serving grades 6-8 in the 78041 zip code of Laredo, Texas: Harmony Science Academy - Laredo (a charter school in the Harmony Public Schools - South Texas district) and Clark Middle (a traditional public school in the United Independent School District (Isd)). Both schools serve a combined population of about 1,202 students and face significant socioeconomic challenges, with over 83% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch.
The standout finding is that both schools achieve exceptional results in Algebra I, despite mixed performance in general math. Harmony Science Academy - Laredo posts a 96.55% proficiency rate in Algebra I, while Clark Middle achieves a perfect 100% proficiency rate for two consecutive years—both far exceeding state averages. However, Harmony Science Academy - Laredo stands out for its efficiency: despite spending $1,178 less per student than Clark Middle, it outperforms in 8th-grade math (55.56% vs. 46.67%) and maintains a 0.0% dropout rate. Clark Middle is part of the higher-ranked United Independent School District (Isd) (70th percentile) and has shown a steady upward trend in its state ranking, now at the 52nd percentile with a 3-star rating.
Reading proficiency remains a universal challenge, with both schools scoring below state averages in most grade levels. Social Studies is the weakest subject area for both, with only 27.52% of Harmony Science Academy - Laredo students and 25.31% of Clark Middle students proficient in 8th-grade Social Studies. For parents, Harmony Science Academy - Laredo offers a strong STEM focus and efficient spending, while Clark Middle provides consistent improvement and a robust advanced math pipeline, though both schools need to address literacy and social studies instruction.
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