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Very Good

#1884 of 8,552 schools in TX

Top 22% in state

Cathey Middle

Middle School · MCALLEN ISD

1800 N CYNTHIA, Mcallen, TX 78501

Enrollment

829

Student-Teacher

15.9:1

Score

7.8

Grades

6th – 8th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Texas schools

#1,884 of 8,552

In Mcallen

#18 of 37

public schools

In district

#15 of 30

MCALLEN ISD

Equity

9.3 / 10

Excellent

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Cathey Middle

7.8/10

Middle School in Mcallen · grades 6th – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

St Paul Lutheran School

6.9/10

0.4 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Memorial H S

7.3/10

0.6 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Cathey Middle

Cathey Middle is a public middle school in Mcallen, TX, part of MCALLEN ISD. Cathey Middle serves approximately 829 students, and covers grades 6th-8th, and has a 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio. Cathey Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.8 out of 10 and ranks #1,884 of 8,552 schools in TX.

Structured state assessment records for Cathey Middle show 74% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 74% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

How it comparesOn par with district
  • This school 7.8 · Very Good
  • District avg 8.0
  • TX avg 6.3

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.2Excellent40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-2.82 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendDeclining
Academics8.9Excellent35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency56% (2024 STAAR)
Reading/ELA Proficiency65% (2024 STAAR)
Math vs. State Avg+12.4 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+10.7 pts
Overall Proficiency61% (2024 STAAR, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)44% (model expectation from 2024 STAAR)
vs. Expected+16.8 pts
Adjusted Percentile84th
Resources & Environment5.8Average25%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio15.9:1
Per-Pupil Spending$13,409
Chronic Absenteeism22.4%

Cathey Middle — Students at Cathey Middle score 60% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 44%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

71.9%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores TX STAAR (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 73.5% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
School
State
43.6% (2024 STAAR)
ELA Proficiency 73.7% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
School
State
54.3% (2024 STAAR)

Based on 30 test records from TX state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
92%
ELA
91%
2010
Math
90%
ELA
92%
2011
Math
87%
ELA
91%
2012
Math
84%
ELA
85%
2013
Math
87%
ELA
86%
2014
Math
82%
ELA
83%
2015
Math
86%
ELA
85%
2016
Math
88%
ELA
86%
2017
Math
67%
ELA
57%
2018
Math
69%
ELA
62%
2019
Math
69%
ELA
62%
2020*
Math
46%
ELA
47%
2021*
Math
46%
ELA
47%
2022
Math
54.2%
ELA
65.9%
2024
Math
56%
ELA
65%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 8.2/10.

How Cathey Middle Compares

See how Cathey Middle performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.8/10
78th percentile in TX
Academic
8.9/10
Excellent
Growth
8.2/10
Excellent
Environment
5.8/10
Average
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
72%
Teaching Staff
16:1 student-teacher ratio
52 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
22.4%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

1800 N CYNTHIA, Mcallen, TX 78501

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Cathey Middle may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. ACHIEVE EARLY COLLEGE H S (rated 9.5/10, 2.2 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is MILAM EL (rated 8.9/10, 1.6 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, MCALLEN H S (rated 8.0/10, 1.7 miles away), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Mcallen, see our Mcallen schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.3 mi
School Distance Rating
ST PAUL LUTHERAN SCHOOL Mcallen 0.4 mi 6.9
MEMORIAL H S Mcallen 0.6 mi 7.3
JACKSON EL Mcallen 0.7 mi 7.2
ST JOHNS EPISCOPAL DAY SCHOOL Mcallen 0.9 mi 6.1
LAMAR ACADEMY Mcallen 1.0 mi 4.6
WILSON EL Mcallen 1.2 mi 5.7
FIELDS EL Mcallen 1.5 mi 6.3
HORIZON MONTESSORI - STEM ACADEMY Mcallen 1.5 mi 7.8
DANIEL RAMIREZ EL Pharr 1.5 mi 7.1
MILAM EL Mcallen 1.6 mi 8.9
MCALLEN H S Mcallen 1.7 mi 8.0
TRAVIS MIDDLE Mcallen 1.8 mi 7.8
TRIUMPH PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS-MCALLEN Mcallen 1.7 mi 5.3
ALLEN & WILLIAM ARNOLD EL Pharr 1.8 mi 7.4
AIDA C ESCOBAR EL Pharr 2.1 mi 7.9
QUEST COLLEGIATE ACADEMY-MCALLEN Lewisville 2.1 mi 5.6
KIDS VILLAGE MONTESSORI LRNNG Mcallen 2.2 mi
SOUTHWEST KEY PROGRAM Mcallen 2.2 mi
ACHIEVE EARLY COLLEGE H S Mcallen 2.2 mi 9.5
ALVAREZ EL Mcallen 2.3 mi 6.4

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 78501 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$49,451

Median Home Value

$149,000

Median Rent

$943/mo

Population

59,095

College Educated

26.6%

Homeownership

50.2%

Avg Commute

18.8 min

Poverty Rate

25.3%

Median Age

36.8

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
A P SOLIS MIDDLE Donna, TX 7.8
ALEXANDER MIDDLE Pearland, TX 7.8
ARBOR CREEK MIDDLE Carrollton, TX 7.8
BOWMAN MIDDLE Plano, TX 7.8
BUSH MIDDLE San Antonio, TX 7.8
CHISHOLM TRAIL MIDDLE Round Rock, TX 7.8

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Cathey Middle

What grades does Cathey Middle serve?

Cathey Middle serves students in grades 6th through 8th.

How many students attend Cathey Middle?

Cathey Middle has an enrollment of approximately 829 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Cathey Middle?

The student-teacher ratio at Cathey Middle is 15.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Cathey Middle rank in TX?

Cathey Middle ranks #1,884 of 8,552 schools in TX.

What is Cathey Middle's MySchoolScout rating?

Cathey Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.8 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Cathey Middle?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Cathey Middle has 74% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 74% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Is Cathey Middle a charter school?

No, Cathey Middle is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Cathey Middle a Title I school?

No, Cathey Middle is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Cathey Middle?

71.9% of students at Cathey Middle qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
40 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
40 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
6th – 8th
Enrollment
829
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.9:1
Teachers (FTE)
52
Free/Reduced Lunch
71.9%
Type
regular
Setting
Midsize City
County
Hidalgo County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
22.4%

District

MCALLEN ISD
District Enrollment
20,095
Schools in District
31
Per-Pupil Spending
$13,409
District Rank
#15 of 30

How we rate schools

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