Summary:
In zip code 78576, there is one middle school, Dr Javier Saenz Middle, serving grades 6 through 8 in Penitas, Texas, as part of the La Joya Independent School District (Isd).
Dr Javier Saenz Middle has 601 students and a low student-teacher ratio of 13.1, which suggests smaller class sizes. The school serves a community where 98.5% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, and it spends $12,075 per student. Its overall state ranking is in the bottom third of Texas middle schools (27th percentile, 1 star), and this ranking has been stable over the last three years. The dropout rate is 0.9%, which is lower than the district average of 1.3%.
The most notable finding is a dramatic split in academic performance. In 8th-grade Algebra I, the school is an extreme outlier, with 96.3% of students proficient in the 2025-2026 school year—nearly double the district average of 48.84% and far above the state average of 54.03%. This success was consistent the previous year as well. However, the school struggles significantly in other core subjects. For example, 7th-grade math proficiency was just 2.7% in 2025-2026, compared to 29.41% statewide. This pattern of high Algebra I achievement alongside low performance in standard math, reading, science, and social studies suggests a highly effective, targeted program for advanced math students that has not yet been scaled to improve broader academic outcomes. The school’s overall low state ranking masks this one clear area of excellence.
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