Summary:
This analysis examines nine middle schools in zip code 78521 (Brownsville, TX), all part of the Brownsville Independent School District (Isd), serving grades 6 through 8 with a combined enrollment of approximately 6,678 students.
Stillman Middle stands out as the top performer, ranking in the 74th percentile statewide with a 4-star rating and the lowest economic disadvantage rate at 67.74% free/reduced lunch. In contrast, Lucio Middle has the highest economic disadvantage at 99.68% but still excels in advanced coursework, with 96.88% proficiency in Algebra I and 100% in English I Reading. Vela Middle showed the most dramatic improvement, jumping from the 48th to the 70th percentile. A critical systemic issue is the "7th Grade Math Dip," where proficiency rates plummet across all schools—ranging from 0% at Manzano Middle to just 14.63% at Stillman—compared to the state average of 29.41%. Despite this, all schools achieve near-perfect scores in advanced End-of-Course exams like English I Reading and Biology, indicating strong support for top-tier students.
Spending per student varies widely from $9,510 at Stillman to $15,086 at Besteiro Middle, yet it does not correlate with performance—Stillman spends the least but ranks highest. The average free/reduced lunch rate is 89.23%, reflecting high economic disadvantage, but dropout rates are exceptionally low (0.0% to 0.2%), suggesting schools effectively keep students engaged. The average state ranking for these schools is approximately the 51st percentile, slightly above the state median, with a student-teacher ratio averaging 13.5:1.
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