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Teachers: what resource would make the biggest difference at SOUTH TEXAS ISD PREPARATORY ACADEMY this year?
Community prompt from u/allk12. Replies below.
Enrollment
802
Middle
DISTRICT 792 · STATE 643
SCHOOL COMMUNITY·SOUTH TEXAS ISD·NCES 483715012250
South Texas ISD Preparatory Academy
724 SUGAR RD, EDINBURG, TX 78539 · (956) 381-5522 · Hidalgo County
GRADES 06–08MIDDLE12-CITYTITLE IREGULAR SCHOOL802 STUDENTS
A+
allk12 Grade
Scored higher than 99% of Texas public middle schools
- A+Test scores Share of students meeting the state standard in reading, math, and other tested subjects, 2023-24 and 2024-25.
- A+Beats expectations How far test scores land above or below what the share of low-income students predicts for a school in this state.
- A-Three-year trend Change in reading and math proficiency over the last three test years.
Grades compare a school only with schools in the same state, because every state gives its own test. How grades work · Top-graded Texas public middle schools
Student : Teacher
13.9:1
58 FTE teachers
DISTRICT 14.9:1 · STATE 14.4:1
Free / Reduced Lunch
45%
364 students
DISTRICT 59% · STATE 65%
Community
1
0 members
Enrollment and student:teacher ratio compared against other middle schools. Free/Reduced Lunch and demographics compared against all schools.
Enrollment by grade, 2024-25
| Grade | Students | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Grade 6 | 271 | 34% |
| Grade 7 | 260 | 32% |
| Grade 8 | 271 | 34% |
Student demographics
34%Diversity index
The chance that two students picked at random belong to different racial or ethnic groups.
DISTRICT 24% · STATE 63% · US 70%
Student head counts by race/ethnicity from federal NCES enrollment data. District, state, and US figures are each group's share of all public school students in that area (US excludes territories). Very small groups may be suppressed in the source, so categories do not always sum exactly to total enrollment.
Gender split
Test scores
STAAR 2025-26 . % Meets Grade Level or AboveReading
90.0%
TX avg 54.5% . +21.0pp since 2020
Mathematics
81.0%
TX avg 45.3% . +32.0pp since 2020
What this means: On the STAAR, Texas's statewide test, about 90 of every 100 students at this school read at grade level and about 81 of 100 do math at grade level. Across all Texas schools, those numbers are about 55 and 45. Reading scores are up about 21 points since 2020, while math scores are up about 32 points.
Performance levels, 2025-26
| Subject | Masters Grade Level | Meets Grade Level | Approaches Grade Level | Did Not Meet Grade Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | 71.0% | 19.0% | 7.0% | 3.0% |
| Mathematics | 50.0% | 31.0% | 16.0% | 3.0% |
Share of tested students at each STAAR level. Each student counts in one level, so a row adds to about 100%.
STAAR results by year
| School year | Reading | Mathematics |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 90.0% | 81.0% |
| 2024-25 | 89.0% | 79.0% |
| 2023-24 | 89.0% | 77.0% |
| 2022-23 | 72.0% | 63.0% |
| 2021-22 | 73.0% | 60.0% |
| 2020-21 | 69.0% | 49.0% |
% Meets Grade Level or Above, all students and all tested grades.
Source: STAAR. All students, all grades. See all years and grades →
BeatsExpectations
Demographically-adjusted score · methodologyTier
OUTPERFORMING
Top 10% of TX schools after controlling for student poverty
Actual proficiency
81.9%
composite math + reading, all grades
Predicted
54.3%
based on TX schools with similar FRL share
Beats by
+27.6pp
above demographic expectation
What this means: About 82% of students here test proficient in math and reading, well above the roughly 54% typical for Texas schools with a similar share of low-income students. BeatsExpectations ranks schools against others at the same poverty level, not by raw scores, so a school can post high scores and still fall short of its prediction, or post lower scores and still beat it. This school clears its prediction by about 28 points, placing it in Texas's top 10%.
BeatsExpectations runs a per-state regression of proficiency on free/reduced-lunch share, then scores each school by residual. How this is calculated →
Schools most like South Texas ISD Preparatory Academy
South Texas ISD Preparatory Academy's state test result (81.9% proficient) is higher than 5 of the 5 schools below with a result.
| School | Students | Low-income | Proficient |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Texas ISD Preparatory Academy this school | 802 | 45.4% | 81.9% |
| Stinson Middle School SAN ANTONIO | 898 | 40.8% | 48.3% |
| Adkins Middle School CORPUS CHRISTI | 518 | 48.6% | 46.2% |
| Morris Middle School MCALLEN | 999 | 45.0% | 69.5% |
| Connally Middle School SAN ANTONIO | 692 | 41.5% | 42.8% |
| Kaffie Middle School CORPUS CHRISTI | 1,154 | 39.5% | 49.1% |
Matched among Texas middle schools on enrollment, the share of students from low-income families (eligible for free or reduced-price lunch), and racial and ethnic makeup. Proficient is the average share of students meeting the state standard across all of the school's state tests in 2023-24 and 2024-25, the same combined score our test-score rankings use. Online schools and schools serving specialized populations are not matched.
Where South Texas ISD Preparatory Academy ranks
Among middle schools| Measure | This school | In Texas | In Hidalgo County |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 81.9% | #22 of 1,635 | #1 of 54 |
| Math proficiency ranked highest first | 81.0% | #48 of 1,670 ▲ 7 | #1 of 54 no change |
| Reading proficiency ranked highest first | 90.0% | #19 of 1,670 ▲ 7 | #1 of 54 no change |
| 3-year test score change ranked biggest gain first | +18.0pp | #371 of 1,570 | #5 of 54 |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 802 | #561 of 1,749 | #16 of 54 |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 13.9:1 | #580 of 1,542 | #32 of 52 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 34.3% | #1,163 of 1,543 | #1 of 52 |
| Free and reduced lunch ranked highest share first | 45.4% | #1,230 of 1,648 | #53 of 54 |
| Enrollment change since 2017-18 ranked fastest growth first | +30.4% | #82 of 437 | #1 of 6 |
Ranked against other public middle schools. Online schools are left out of every list, and test-score lists leave out schools that serve specialized populations. Each rank links to the full list. Arrows under a test-score rank show places moved since the prior test year, among schools tested both years.
4-year change
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25Enrollment
802
+185 (+30%) vs 2020
+47% since 2010-11, when it was 545
Student : Teacher
13.9:1
was 15.1:1
Source: NCES Common Core of Data
Enrollment and staffing by year
| School year | Students | Teachers (FTE) | Students per teacher | Free and reduced lunch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 802 | 57.5 | 13.9:1 | 45% (364) |
| 2023-24 | 732 | 45.5 | 16.1:1 | 48% (349) |
| 2022-23 | 652 | 42.4 | 15.4:1 | 42% (273) |
| 2020-21 | 617 | 41 | 15.1:1 | 44% (273) |
| 2017-18 | 615 | 41.8 | 14.7:1 | 40% (248) |
| 2015-16 | 579 | 41 | 14.1:1 | 41% (239) |
| 2010-11 | 545 | 35 | 15.6:1 | 54% (297) |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data. Rows are the federal collections on file for South Texas ISD Preparatory Academy.
Since 2017-18: students up 30% (615 to 802); teachers up 38% (41.8 to 57.5).
About South Texas ISD Preparatory Academy
EDINBURG, Texas, is home to South Texas ISD Preparatory Academy, a medium-sized middle school. A federal count lists 802 students at the school, in grades 6 through 8. Average enrollment for middle schools in Texas is about 643, so this school runs 25% larger than that.
District-wide, SOUTH TEXAS ISD has 7 schools and 4,639 students.
The large majority of students at South Texas ISD Preparatory Academy, 80%, are Hispanic. The next largest groups are 10% Asian, 5% White, 2% multiracial, and 2% Black. The school's Hispanic share is 12 points below the 92% share among Hidalgo County residents. South Texas ISD Preparatory Academy has a diversity index of 34%, compared with 70% for all US public school students.
South Texas ISD Preparatory Academy counts 57.5 full-time-equivalent teachers, about 13.9 students for each one. Middle schools in Texas have a similar average ratio of 14.4:1. About 45% of enrolled students meet the income rules for free or reduced-price lunch. Among public schools in Hidalgo County, the average eligibility rate is 85%.
Measured against Texas public middle schools, South Texas ISD Preparatory Academy receives an A+. The grade weighs proficiency most heavily, then how results compare with what the school's low-income share predicts, then the three-year change.
On a poverty-adjusted basis, South Texas ISD Preparatory Academy is in the top 10% of Texas schools: 81.9% actual against 54.3% predicted.
Census Bureau estimates for Hidalgo County show that median household income is about $54,338, a bachelor's degree or higher is held by about 21% of adults, and the share of residents below the poverty line is 23%. South Texas ISD Preparatory Academy is one of 364 public schools in Hidalgo County, which together enroll about 212,859 students.
South Texas ISD World Scholars is the nearest neighboring public school, about 0.1 miles away. A five-mile radius around the school includes at least 8 other public schools. South Texas ISD Preparatory Academy's average proficiency of 81.9% compares with 56.1% for its nearest scored neighbors.
By NCES locale, the school is City: Mid-size, or inside a principal city with a population between 100,000 and 250,000.
South Texas ISD Preparatory Academy had 617 students in 2020-21 and 802 in 2024-25, a 30% rise. The student-to-teacher ratio fell from 15.1:1 in 2020-21 to 13.9:1 in 2024-25.
Parents and students can post about school events, clubs, and volunteer needs at South Texas ISD Preparatory Academy. Alumni can share how the school prepared them.
Hidalgo County at a glance
View full county profilePopulation
891,977
Census ACS
Median income
$54,338
Household, ACS
Bachelor's+
21%
Adults 25+
Poverty rate
23%
Below federal line
Schools in county
364
212,859 students
Quick facts
Related schools
Other schools in SOUTH TEXAS ISD
- South Texas ISD Science AcademyHigh · 840 students
- South Texas ISD Medical ProfessionsHigh · 820 students
- South Texas ISD Health ProfessionsHigh · 781 students
- South Texas ISD Rising Scholars AcademyMiddle · 781 students
- South Texas ISD World ScholarsHigh · 403 students
- South Texas ISD Virtual AcademyHigh · 212 students
Other schools in EDINBURG
- Economedes High SchoolHigh · 2,689 students
- Edinburg North High SchoolHigh · 2,542 students
- Edinburg High SchoolHigh · 2,267 students
- Robert R Vela High SchoolHigh · 2,101 students
- Vanguard BeethovenCombined · 1,782 students
- Betty Harwell Middle SchoolMiddle · 1,301 students
Nearby schools
- South Texas ISD World Scholars0.1 mi · 403
- Lee Elementary School0.1 mi · 414
- De La Vina Elementary School0.7 mi · 641
- South Middle School0.8 mi · 1,246
- Early Childhood1.0 mi · 352
- Jefferson Elementary School1.1 mi · 511
Frequently asked questions
About South Texas ISD Preparatory AcademyWhat is the total enrollment at South Texas ISD Preparatory Academy?
South Texas ISD Preparatory Academy enrolls approximately 802 students in grades 06-08.
Is South Texas ISD Preparatory Academy an elementary, middle, or high school?
South Texas ISD Preparatory Academy is a middle school covering grades 06-08.
How many teachers does South Texas ISD Preparatory Academy have?
South Texas ISD Preparatory Academy employs 58 FTE teachers, for a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.9:1.
What is the racial breakdown of students at South Texas ISD Preparatory Academy?
At South Texas ISD Preparatory Academy, the student body is approximately 5% White, 80% Hispanic, 2% Black, 10% Asian, 2% Two or more.
What district is South Texas ISD Preparatory Academy in?
South Texas ISD Preparatory Academy is part of SOUTH TEXAS ISD.
Data sourceSchool profile facts are sourced from the NCES. Community content is posted by allk12 members.