Summary:
This analysis examines three middle schools in the 78230 zip code of San Antonio, Texas, serving grades 6 through 8 across the Northside Independent School District (Isd) and the North East Independent School District (Isd).
Hobby Middle stands out as the highest-performing school in the area, with a state ranking that has risen to the 64th percentile and test scores that consistently meet or exceed district and state averages. In contrast, Jackson Middle faces significant academic challenges, ranking in the bottom 21st percentile with proficiency rates well below averages, such as only 8.2% of 7th graders proficient in math compared to the state average of 29.41%. Alternative Middle is a specialized program with only 65 students and a very low student-teacher ratio of 4.3, though it has no reported test scores or ranking history. All three schools serve predominantly low-income populations, with free/reduced lunch rates ranging from 67.69% to 74.84%.
A key finding is that despite similar socioeconomic demographics, Hobby Middle significantly outperforms Jackson Middle, suggesting that factors like school leadership and teaching quality are powerful drivers of success. Both schools show a dramatic drop in 7th-grade math proficiency, indicating a systemic curriculum issue that warrants district attention. Additionally, Hobby Middle excels in advanced coursework, with 88.82% of Algebra I students proficient, far surpassing district and state averages. The spending per student at Alternative Middle ($845,295) is an extreme outlier due to its specialized nature and small size, while Hobby and Jackson spend $9,906 and $11,701 per student, respectively.
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