Summary:
Zip code 79915 in El Paso, Texas, is home to two middle schools, Bel Air Middle and Riverside Middle, both part of the Ysleta Independent School District (Isd), serving grades 6-8 in a community where over 90% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.
Bel Air Middle stands out as the stronger performer in this area. It ranks in the 48th percentile statewide for 2025-2026, significantly higher than Riverside Middle's 35th percentile, and has shown a positive upward trend over the past three years while Riverside has stagnated. Bel Air outperforms Riverside in 9 out of 11 subject-grade test comparisons, with a notable lead in 8th Grade Reading (56.27% proficient vs. 47.93%). Both schools have very low dropout rates (0.2% and 0.4%, respectively), well below the district average of 1.1%. Interestingly, Riverside spends $723 more per student ($10,737 vs. $10,014), yet Bel Air achieves better overall results, suggesting more efficient resource use or effective instructional strategies.
A key strength for both schools is Algebra I proficiency, where they far exceed the state average of 54.03%—Bel Air at 86.36% and Riverside at 86.54%—indicating excellent advanced math instruction. However, 7th Grade Math is a critical weakness, with proficiency rates of just 14.15% at Bel Air and 16.99% at Riverside, compared to the state average of 29.41%. This represents a clear area for targeted intervention. Overall, families in this zip code have a choice between Bel Air's upward trajectory and stronger academics, and Riverside's consistent but lower performance, with both schools sharing similar socioeconomic challenges and exceptional Algebra I outcomes.
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