Summary:
This analysis examines three middle schools (Grades 6-8) located in the 78582 zip code of Rio Grande City, Texas, serving a combined enrollment of approximately 1,937 students across two school districts.
The standout school in the area is Ramiro Barrera Middle, part of the highly-rated Roma Independent School District (ISD) (5 stars, 94th percentile). It is the only school in the zip code to achieve proficiency rates at or above the state average in several subjects, particularly excelling in 8th Grade Mathematics (76.92% vs. state 47.24%). Its state ranking has consistently improved over three years, earning a 3-star rating. In contrast, the two schools in the Rio Grande City Grulla Independent School District (ISD) (3 stars, 61st percentile) show different strengths. Ringgold Middle is the most improved, jumping from the 35th to the 47th percentile in two years, and boasts a 0.0% dropout rate with the highest per-student spending ($13,407) and lowest student-to-teacher ratio (10.9:1). Veterans Middle specializes in 8th Grade Social Studies (51.23% vs. state 31.69%) and advanced Algebra I (78.13% proficiency).
A key takeaway is that all three schools serve a population with very high economic disadvantage (over 93% free/reduced lunch), yet they achieve notable successes. The Algebra I anomaly is striking: both Rio Grande City Grulla ISD schools far exceed the state average (54%) in Algebra I proficiency (Ringgold at 90%, Veterans at 78%), yet they fall below the state average in standard 8th Grade Math. This suggests a strong advanced math program but a need for improvement in the general math curriculum. Additionally, 8th Grade Social Studies is a local strength, with both Veterans and Ringgold outperforming the state average, indicating targeted instructional effectiveness in this subject area.
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