Summary:
The 8 public schools in zip code 79707 (Midland, TX) serve grades PK-12 and are all part of the Midland Independent School District (Isd), which holds a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger and ranks in the 41st percentile statewide.
For parents, the standout school is Greathouse Elementary, which is the top performer in the area with an 80th percentile state ranking and a 4-star rating for three consecutive years. It also has the lowest percentage of economically disadvantaged students (35.32%). In contrast, Rusk Elementary has the highest rate at 67.25%. The most improved school is Scharbauer Elementary, which jumped from the 19th to the 70th percentile in just two years. Abell J H is a standout for advanced math, with 93.75% of its 8th graders scoring proficient on the Algebra I exam—nearly double the state average. However, Legacy High School is a major concern, ranking in the 22nd percentile with alarmingly low Algebra I (4.15%) and English I proficiency rates. Spending varies widely, from $8,526 per student at Greathouse to $11,114 at Bush Elementary, yet higher spending does not guarantee better results.
A key takeaway is the disconnect between strong elementary schools (5 out of 6 rank in the top 40% of the state) and the struggling high school, suggesting students may not be well-served once they reach Legacy. The Algebra I failure at Legacy is a systemic issue, contrasting sharply with Abell J H's success. A bright spot is Legacy's U.S. History scores (62.81% proficient), which outperform the district average and could offer a model for improvement in other subjects. Overall, the data shows that school culture and leadership may matter more than spending alone.
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