Choosing the right middle school for your children can prove to be a daunting task. Middle school is when children start to flex their growing independence. This is a critical transition period for students. As they assert their independence, their responsibilities increase, they attend multiple classes and their academic performance are closely monitored and graded. Schools focus on preparing them for the more rigorous academic grind in high school.
When we compared Lanier Middle School, which is a part of HOUSTON ISD, with Ortiz Middle School, which is a part of HOUSTON ISD, we noted a slight difference in ratings.
Lanier Middle School’s regular student population is 1,415 with a 21.3 students/teacher ratio. The student population at Ortiz Middle School is 950 students and a 15.7 students/teacher ratio.
Lanier Middle School performed excellent to earn a State accountability rating of A (90-100) based on three domains: student achievement, school progress and closing the gaps. Scores are scaled from 0 to 100 to align with letter grades. The school scored 94 in student achievement, 91 in school progress and 96 in closing performance gaps. It scored 95 overall in post-secondary readiness, a broad term that refers to student preparedness to undertake multiple pathways after graduation, or specifically, their preparedness for college education.
On the other hand, Ortiz Middle School earned a State accountability rating of B. The school posted 70 in student achievement, 89 in school progress, 82 in closing performance gaps and 87 overall in post-secondary readiness.
A distinction designation acknowledges districts and campuses for outstanding achievement based on the outcomes of several performance indicators. Distinction designations are awarded for achievement in several areas and are based on performance relative to a group of campuses of similar type, size, grade span, and student demographics.
It is in this area where the two schools differ. Lanier Middle School's six out of seven distinctions are in Reading/English Language Arts (ELA), Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, post-secondary and with 25% student progress. Ortiz Middle School’s five out of seven distinctions are in Mathematics, Science, post-secondary, with 25% student progress and 25% closing performance gaps.
Based on Racial/Ethnic Groups, Whites or Caucasians comprise the biggest group at Lanier Middle School. They make up for 31.52% of student population, followed by Hispanics (28.69%), Asians (20.07%), African Americans (12.37%), Two or More Races (7.14%) and Native Americans (0.21%).
At Ortiz Middle School, Hispanics make up 80.84% of student population, followed by African Americans (15.47%), Asians (1.79%), Whites or Caucasians (0.95%), Two or More Races (0.63%) and Native Americans (0.32%).
Based on household incomes, the Lanier Middle School’s economically disadvantaged students is significantly lower at 25.58% compared to 98.84% at Ortiz Middle School.
In terms of Limited English Proficiency (LEP), a term used in the United States that refers to a person who is not fluent in the English Language, mainly because it is not their native language, Lanier Middle School has 121 English Language Learners or ELLS or about 8.55% of student population. Ortiz Middle School has significantly more ELLs at 483 or about 50.84% of student population.
Lanier Middle School’s bilingual students comprise 9.12%, gifted and talented students, 65.09%, while 4.81% are in the special education program. Ortiz Middle School bilingual students comprise 49.26%, gifted and talented students, 10.32%, and 10.21% are in the special education program.
Lanier Middle School's 66 teachers have been working at the campus for an average of 7.7 years with individual teaching experience averaging 10.9 years. Teachers at Ortiz Middle School, numbering 60 teachers, have been serving the school for an average of 5.2 years with individual teaching experience averaging 6.9 years.
Of its teaching staff, Lanier Middle School has three teachers serving the school for over 30 years, has six teachers serving the school for 20-30 years, 20 teachers have worked for 11-20 years, 19 teachers have worked for 6-10 years, while 13 teachers have been serving the school for over 1-5 years, including six beginning teachers. Ortiz Middle School no teacher serving the school for over 30 years, has three teachers serving the school for 20-30 years, 12 teachers have worked for 11-20 years, 11 teachers have worked for 6-10 years, while 25 teachers have been serving the school for over 1-5 years, including nine beginning teachers.
In both schools, female teachers outnumber the male teachers. At Lanier Middle School there are 41 female teachers and 24 male teachers. Of its teaching staff, one special education teacher is being assisted by four teachers aides or paraprofessionals. In addition to its teaching staff, the school has three staff members in the school administration department and seven more working as school support staff.
At Ortiz Middle School there are 43 female teachers and 17 male teachers. Of its teaching staff, three special education teachers are being assisted by seven teachers aides or paraprofessionals. In addition to its teaching staff, the school has three staff members in the school administration department and three more working as school support staff.
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