Very Good
#1974 of 8,552 schools in TX
Top 23% in state
Vela Middle
Middle School · Brownsville ISD · Brownsville, TX
A Brownsville ISD middle school where students score 15 points above what's typical for similar communities.
4905 PAREDES LINE RD, Brownsville, TX 78521
- Math 45% vs TX 44% (2024)
- Reading 65% vs TX 54% (2024)
- 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Vela Middle score 55% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 40%).
2024 STAAR proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. TX average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 16-year record (2009–2024), then recovered 27 points since 2020, reaching 55% in 2024.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 59% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 64% (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 scoreFree/reduced lunch
81.5%
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Vela 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 41Car-Dependent
- Bike 42Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High2,404/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Brownsville), 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
$41,276
Median home value
$90,500
Median rent
$864/mo
College educated
14.8%
Homeownership
59.4%
Poverty rate
30.6%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 78521; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jubilee BrownsvilleCharter · enrollment unverified | 4.9 | PK–12 | 1.3 mi | 980 | Compare → |
| Idea Robindale College PreparatoryCharter · enrollment unverified | 8.2 | 6–10 | 2.8 mi | 571 | Compare → |
| In the Presence of God Coram Deo Classical AcademyPrivate · tuition | Not rated | 2–11 | 2.9 mi | 20 | Compare → |
| Resaca MiddleEnrollment path unverified | 6.0 | 6–8 | 3.2 mi | 879 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.
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.
Brownsville ISD
- Schools in district
- 56
- Rank in district
- #11 of 51
- District spending per student
- $14,041NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 34.2%Census SAIPE · 2024
Vela Middle is listed in BROWNSVILLE ISD; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Vela Middle
Vela Middle is a public middle school in Brownsville, TX, part of Brownsville ISD, serving approximately 601 students in grades 6th-8th with a 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.7 out of 10 and ranks #1,974 of 8,552 schools in TX. State assessment records show 59% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 64% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Vela Middle
What grades does Vela Middle serve?
Vela Middle serves students in grades 6th through 8th.
How many students attend Vela Middle?
Vela Middle has an enrollment of approximately 601 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Vela Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Vela Middle is 12.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Vela Middle rank in TX?
Vela Middle ranks #1,974 of 8,552 schools in TX.
What is Vela Middle's MySchoolScout rating?
Vela Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.7 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 Vela Middle?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Vela Middle has 59% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 64% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Vela Middle a charter school?
No, Vela Middle is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Vela Middle a Title I school?
No, Vela Middle is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Vela Middle?
81.5% of students at Vela 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
- 601
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 12.8:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 47
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Cameron County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 33.4%
- Phone
- (956) 548-7770
- Area population (ZIP 78521)
- 87,860
- Area average commute
- 21.8 min
- Area median age
- 31.5
Official sources & links
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 78521; 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
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