Skip to main content

Excellent

#811 of 8,552 schools in TX

Top 10% in state

Michael E Fossum Middle

Middle School · Mcallen ISD · Mcallen, TX

A Mcallen ISD middle school where students score 19 points above what's typical for similar communities.

7800 N WARE RD, Mcallen, TX 78504

  • Math 57% vs TX 44% (2024)
  • Reading 74% vs TX 54% (2024)
  • 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio

Academics

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.6Excellent40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-2.5 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendDeclining
Academics9.2Excellent35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency57% (2024 STAAR)
Reading/ELA Proficiency74% (2024 STAAR)
Math vs. State Avg+13.4 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+19.7 pts
Overall Proficiency66% (2024 STAAR, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)47% (model expectation from 2024 STAAR)
vs. Expected+18.5 pts
Adjusted Percentile88th
Resources & Environment7.3Very Good25%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio15.1:1
District spending per student$13,409
Chronic Absenteeism17.7%

Students at Michael E Fossum Middle score 66% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 47%).

How we calculate scores →

2024 STAAR proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. TX average.

Math Proficiency57%(2024 STAAR)
School
State
44%(2024 STAAR)
ELA Proficiency74%(2024 STAAR)
School
State
54%(2024 STAAR)

Trend

↑ Recovering

Proficiency declined earlier in the 16-year record (2009–2024), then recovered 23 points since 2020, reaching 66% in 2024.

Show all 15 years
2009
Math
79%
ELA
88%
2010
Math
79%
ELA
92%
2011
Math
81%
ELA
91%
2012
Math
81%
ELA
84%
2013
Math
82%
ELA
87%
2014
Math
82%
ELA
85%
2015
Math
86%
ELA
85%
2016
Math
85%
ELA
84%
2017
Math
62%
ELA
59%
2018
Math
64%
ELA
56%
2019
Math
64%
ELA
56%
2020*
Math
40%
ELA
45%
2021*
Math
40%
ELA
45%
2022
Math
50%
ELA
66%
2024
Math
57%
ELA
74%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 69% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 73% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)

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

Based on 30 test records from TX state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

63.7%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

How we rate schools

A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.

See how we rate

The neighborhood

Where Michael E Fossum Middle sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.

Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.

Getting around & local context

  • Walk 6Car-Dependent
  • Bike 29Somewhat Bikeable
  • City Safety: High1,992/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Mcallen), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details

Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.

Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)

Median income

$77,627

Median home value

$203,900

Median rent

$1,178/mo

College educated

40.4%

Homeownership

68.5%

Poverty rate

13%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 78504; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented ProgramAvailable
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students.·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
South Texas Christian AcademyPrivate · tuition6.0privatePK–120.5 mi184Compare →
Morris MiddleEnrollment path unverified8.46–81.5 mi1,036Compare →
Sharyland North J HEnrollment path unverified7.67–81.7 mi772Compare →
De Leon MiddleEnrollment path unverified7.56–82.0 mi721Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.

Mcallen ISD

Schools in district
31
Rank in district
#5 of 30
District spending per student
$13,409NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
31.0%Census SAIPE · 2024

Michael E Fossum Middle is listed in MCALLEN ISD; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Michael E Fossum Middle

Michael E Fossum Middle is a public middle school in Mcallen, TX, part of Mcallen ISD, serving approximately 818 students in grades 6th-8th with a 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.5 out of 10 and ranks #811 of 8,552 schools in TX. State assessment records show 69% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 73% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Michael E Fossum Middle

What grades does Michael E Fossum Middle serve?

Michael E Fossum Middle serves students in grades 6th through 8th.

How many students attend Michael E Fossum Middle?

Michael E Fossum Middle has an enrollment of approximately 818 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Michael E Fossum Middle?

The student-teacher ratio at Michael E Fossum Middle is 15.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Michael E Fossum Middle rank in TX?

Michael E Fossum Middle ranks #811 of 8,552 schools in TX.

What is Michael E Fossum Middle's MySchoolScout rating?

Michael E Fossum Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.5 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 Michael E Fossum Middle?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Michael E Fossum Middle has 69% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 73% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Is Michael E Fossum Middle a charter school?

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

Is Michael E Fossum Middle a Title I school?

No, Michael E Fossum Middle is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Michael E Fossum Middle?

63.7% of students at Michael E Fossum 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.

School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)

Grades
6th – 8th
Enrollment
818
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.1:1
Teachers (FTE)
54
Type
regular
Setting
Midsize City
County
Hidalgo County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
17.7%
Area population (ZIP 78504)
61,816
Area average commute
23.5 min
Area median age
32.5
About this school's data

Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.

School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
  • Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
MySchoolScout rating and rank
MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
Math proficiency
State department of education · 2024 STAAR · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2024 STAAR. A newer release may be available.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Reading/ELA proficiency
State department of education · 2024 STAAR · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2024 STAAR. A newer release may be available.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Student progress (growth)
NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
  • Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
  • Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 78504; this does not measure the attendance area.
Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.

Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2024; directory SY 2023–24

About our data · How we calculate scores

Related reading

Get school insights in your inbox

New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.