Summary:
This analysis examines the two middle schools located in zip code 78363 (Kingsville, TX), Gillett Middle and Ricardo Middle, which serve grades 6-8 and present a stark contrast in academic performance despite being in the same geographic area.
Ricardo Middle is the clear standout, earning a 5-star rating from its district, Ricardo Independent School District (Isd), which ranks in the top 10% of Texas districts. Ricardo Middle consistently ranks in the top 17% of Texas middle schools, with average reading proficiency at 65.8% and math proficiency at 61.2%, both well above the state averages of 55.4% and 38.4%, respectively. In contrast, Gillett Middle has a 0-star rating and ranks in the bottom 5% of Texas middle schools, with critically low proficiency rates of 29.5% in reading and just 8.4% in math. The most alarming gap is in 7th-grade math, where only 2.68% of Gillett students are proficient compared to 71.21% at Ricardo. Additionally, 100% of Ricardo students taking Algebra I are proficient, far exceeding the state average, while Gillett lags at 50%.
The data reveals a strong correlation between socioeconomic factors and performance, as Gillett Middle has a 91.87% free/reduced lunch rate versus 49.52% at Ricardo Middle. Notably, spending per student is similar ($10,900 at Gillett vs. $11,264 at Ricardo), and Gillett actually has a slightly better student-teacher ratio (13:1 vs. 14:1), suggesting the performance gap is driven more by district-level challenges and instructional effectiveness than by resources alone. Kingsville Independent School District (Isd), which oversees Gillett, ranks in the bottom 5% of Texas districts, while Ricardo ISD excels. For parents, this zip code offers two vastly different educational environments: one high-achieving and one struggling significantly, particularly in math.
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