Average
#4380 of 8,547 schools in TX
Santa Maria Middle
Middle School · SANTA MARIA ISD
P O BOX 448, Santa Maria, TX 78592
Enrollment
121
Student-Teacher
9.3:1
Score
6.3
Grades
6th – 8th
Enrollment
121
Student-Teacher
9.3:1
Score
6.3
Grades
6th – 8th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Santa Maria
#1 of 3
public schools
Texas middle schools
#896 of 1,693
In district
#1 of 3
SANTA MARIA ISD
School environment
9.9 / 10
Exceptional
About Santa Maria Middle
Santa Maria Middle serves 121 students in grades 6 through 8 in the small community of Santa Maria, Texas. This rural public school maintains an exceptionally small student-teacher ratio of 9.3:1 with 13 full-time equivalent teachers, allowing for more individualized attention in the classroom. The school has earned recognition for its performance, receiving a 7.3 out of 10 rating from MySchoolScout and ranking #1328 out of 8,598 middle schools statewide, placing it in the 85th percentile among Texas schools.
This strong ranking demonstrates the school's commitment to student achievement despite serving a community facing economic challenges. Santa Maria Middle operates in Cameron County, where the median household income is $30,156 and about 35% of residents live below the poverty line. The surrounding ZIP code has a population of just 587 people, with median home values around $34,800.
Only 2% of area residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher, highlighting the importance of educational opportunities for local families. This small middle school provides an intimate learning environment where students can receive personalized attention from dedicated educators. Santa Maria Middle is situated in a rural area near the town, serving as an important educational anchor for this close-knit South Texas community.
What Parents Should Know
With an enrollment of 121 students, Santa Maria Middle is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.
While current test scores at Santa Maria Middle are below average, the school shows strong growth metrics — meaning students are making above-average progress year over year. This upward trajectory can be a positive indicator for families who value a school's ability to help students improve, even if absolute scores haven't caught up yet.
With a student-teacher ratio of 9.3:1, Santa Maria Middle offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Santa Maria Middle — Students at Santa Maria Middle score 15% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 21%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
99.2%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores TX EDFACTS (2020-21)
Based on 4 test records from TX state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
↓ DecliningAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* 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: 6.5/10.
How Santa Maria Middle Compares
See how Santa Maria Middle performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has declined from 17% (2019) to 7.5% (2021). Reading/ELA proficiency has declined from 32% (2019) to 22% (2021).
Location
P O BOX 448, Santa Maria, TX 78592
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Santa Maria Middle may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. NOEMI DOMINGUEZ EL (rated 6.3/10, 5.3 miles away, in nearby La Feria), with a very similar rating. Another option is W B GREEN J H (rated 6.2/10, 5.9 miles away, in nearby La Feria), with a very similar rating. Additionally, SGT MANUEL CHACON MIDDLE (rated 5.5/10, 5.6 miles away, in nearby Mercedes), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Santa Maria, see our Santa Maria schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 6.7 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| TONY GONZALEZ EL Santa Maria | 0.1 mi | 5.5 |
| SANTA MARIA ACADEMIC ACADEMY-OPTIONS CAMPUS (6-12) Santa Maria | 0.2 mi | — |
| SANTA MARIA DAEP Santa Maria | 0.2 mi | — |
| SANTA MARIA H S Santa Maria | 0.2 mi | 5.7 |
| DAVID G SANCHEZ EL La Feria | 4.9 mi | 5.6 |
| NOEMI DOMINGUEZ EL La Feria | 5.3 mi | 6.3 |
| C E VAIL EL La Feria | 5.4 mi | 3.7 |
| SGT MANUEL CHACON MIDDLE Mercedes | 5.6 mi | 5.5 |
| W B GREEN J H La Feria | 5.9 mi | 6.2 |
| MERCEDES ACADEMIC ACADEMY Mercedes | 5.8 mi | 5.8 |
| MERCEDES H S Mercedes | 5.7 mi | 4.5 |
| RUBEN HINOJOSA EL Mercedes | 5.8 mi | 4.5 |
| LA FERIA ACADEMY La Feria | 6.0 mi | — |
| LA FERIA EARLY COLLEGE H S La Feria | 6.1 mi | 6.6 |
| TRAVIS EL Mercedes | 6.0 mi | 5.0 |
| SAM HOUSTON EL La Feria | 6.3 mi | 4.8 |
| TRIUMPH PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS-MERCEDES Mercedes | 6.4 mi | 4.2 |
| MERCEDES EARLY COLLEGE ACADEMY Mercedes | 6.6 mi | 4.0 |
| MERCEDES EARLY LITERACY PROGRAM Mercedes | 6.6 mi | 4.5 |
| IMMANUEL LUTHERAN SCHOOL Mercedes | 6.7 mi | — |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 78592 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Population
600
College Educated
3.5%
Homeownership
100%
Poverty Rate
31.2%
Median Age
50.2
Community Profile
It is a community where 4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The area has a poverty rate of 31.2%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| BASIS SAN ANTONIO - NORTHEAST CAMPUS San Antonio, TX | 6.3 |
| GRAPELAND J H Grapeland, TX | 6.5 |
| H S AHEAD ACADEMY Houston, TX | 6.1 |
| HASKELL J H Haskell, TX | 6.1 |
| LONG-VIEW MICRO SCHOOL Austin, TX | 6.5 |
| LUCY ARAGON J H Freer, TX | 6.5 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Santa Maria Middle
What grades does Santa Maria Middle serve?
Santa Maria Middle serves students in grades 6th through 8th.
How many students attend Santa Maria Middle?
Santa Maria Middle has an enrollment of approximately 121 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Santa Maria Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Santa Maria Middle is 9.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Santa Maria Middle rank in TX?
Santa Maria Middle is ranked #4380 out of 8,547 schools in TX.
What is Santa Maria Middle's MySchoolScout rating?
Santa Maria Middle has a composite rating of 6.3 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Santa Maria Middle?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Santa Maria Middle has 12.3% math proficiency and 27.0% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Santa Maria Middle a charter school?
No, Santa Maria Middle is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Santa Maria Middle a Title I school?
No, Santa Maria Middle is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Santa Maria Middle?
99.2% of students at Santa Maria 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.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
- County Safety
- Low (222/100K)
FBI UCR 2024. County-level only. Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- 6th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 121
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 9.3:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 13
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 99.2%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Fringe Rural
- County
- Cameron County
- Phone
- (956) 565-5348
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
SANTA MARIA ISD- District Enrollment
- 540
- Schools in District
- 5
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $20,319
- District Rank
- #1 of 3
Other Schools in This District
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
Read our full methodologyRelated reading
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