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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

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 metrics
Student Progress6.5Above Average40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data2
Annual Change-4.88 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2021
TrendDeclining
Academics3.4Fair35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency7.5%
Reading/ELA Proficiency22%
Overall Proficiency15%
Expected (poverty-adj.)21%
vs. Expected-6.0 pts
Adjusted Percentile15th
Resources & Environment9.9Exceptional25%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio9.3:1
Per-Pupil Spending$20,404

Santa Maria Middle — Students at Santa Maria Middle score 15% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 21%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

99.2%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores TX EDFACTS (2020-21)

Math Proficiency 12.3%
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 27.0%
School
State
N/A

Based on 4 test records from TX state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

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

2019
Math
17%
ELA
32%
2021*
Math
7.5%
ELA
22%

* 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.

Overall Score
6.3/10
49th percentile in TX
Academic
3.4/10
3.4/10
Growth
6.5/10
Above average
Environment
9.9/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
99%
Teaching Staff
9:1 student-teacher ratio
13 teachers

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.

11 schools nearby View map →

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
Data Year
2023–2024

District

SANTA MARIA ISD
District Enrollment
540
Schools in District
5
Per-Pupil Spending
$20,319
District Rank
#1 of 3

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 methodology

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