Summary:
In zip code 78559 (La Feria, TX), two middle schools—W B Green J H (grades 7-8) and Noemi Dominguez Elementary (grades 5-6)—form the entire middle school pipeline for the La Feria Independent School District (Isd), serving a highly economically disadvantaged population where 80% to 87% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.
The standout school is W B Green J H, which excels in Algebra I with an 85.71% proficiency rate—nearly double the state average—and has shown a three-year upward trend in its state ranking. However, this success masks a severe math crisis in the upper grades: 7th-grade math proficiency plummets to just 9.93%, the lowest score in the entire dataset. In contrast, Noemi Dominguez Elementary demonstrates relative strength in 5th-grade Reading (55.25% proficient, close to the state average) and operates more efficiently, spending $9,839 per student compared to $12,821 at W B Green. Despite lower spending, Noemi Dominguez students in 5th and 6th grade generally outperform W B Green’s 7th and 8th graders in core subjects like Reading and Math when compared to state averages.
The data reveals a clear pipeline challenge: students enter Noemi Dominguez with moderate proficiency, but by 8th grade at W B Green, proficiency in standard subjects like Reading (45%) and Math (24%) drops significantly. The only bright spot is the advanced Algebra I track. The district’s primary challenge is addressing the steep decline in math performance between 6th and 7th grade, while also evaluating whether higher spending at W B Green is yielding proportional results in core subjects. Both schools face an uphill battle against state averages due to high economic disadvantage, but W B Green’s improving ranking suggests meaningful progress.
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