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 Watkins Middle School, which is a part of CYPRESS-FAIRBANKS ISD, with Smith Middle School, which is a part of CYPRESS-FAIRBANKS ISD, we noted a slight difference in ratings.
Watkins Middle School’s regular student population is 1,520 with a 16 students/teacher ratio. The student population at Smith Middle School is 1,820 students and a 19.5 students/teacher ratio.
Watkins Middle School earned a State accountability rating of B (80-89) 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 75 in student achievement, 84 in school progress and 73 in closing performance gaps. It scored 81 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, Smith Middle School performed excellent to earn a State accountability rating of A. The school posted 96 in student achievement, 94 in school progress, 100 in closing performance gaps and 97 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.
Smith Middle School's seven out of seven distinctions are in Reading/English Language Arts (ELA), Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, post-secondary, with 25% student progress and 25% closing performance gaps. Watkins Middle School has no distinction.
Based on Racial/Ethnic Groups, Hispanics comprise the biggest group at Watkins Middle School. They make up for 56.78% of student population, followed by African Americans (24.14%), Whites or Caucasians (9.47%), Asians (5.99%), Two or More Races (1.97%) and Native Americans (1.51%).
The student population at Smith Middle School is also predominantly by Whites or Caucasians at 40.38%, followed by Asians (22.03%), Hispanics (21.59%), African Americans (11.37%), Two or More Races (4.01%) and Native Americans (0.33%).
Based on household incomes, Watkins Middle School’s economically disadvantaged students is significantly higher at 75.79% compared to 13.52% at Smith 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, Watkins Middle School has a significantly higher number of English Language Learners comprising 16.51% of its student population compared to 3.13% at Smith Middle School.
In addition, Watkins Middle School has 14.47% bilingual students, 3.68% are in the gifted and talented program, while 11.64% are in the special education program. This stacks up against Smith Middle School with 2.75% bilingual students, 23.85% gifted and talented students and 6.43% students in the special education program.
Watkins Middle School's 94 teachers have been working at the campus for an average of 6.9 years with individual teaching experience averaging 8.8 years. Teachers at Smith Middle School, numbering 93 teachers, have been serving the school for an average of 7.5 years with individual teaching experience averaging 11.2 years.
Of its teaching staff, Watkins Middle School has three teachers serving the school for over 30 years, has six teachers serving the school for 20-30 years, 18 teachers have worked for 11-20 years, 17 teachers have worked for 6-10 years, while 40 teachers have been serving the school for over 1-5 years, including ten beginning teachers. Smith Middle School has one teacher only serving the school for over 30 years, has 12 teachers serving the school for 20-30 years, 33 teachers have worked for 11-20 years, 22 teachers have worked for 6-10 years, while 20 teachers have been serving the school for over 1-5 years, including five beginning teachers.
In both schools, female teachers outnumber the male teachers. At Watkins Middle School there are 70 female teachers and 24 male teachers. Of its teaching staff, 11 special education teachers are being assisted by 17 teachers aides or paraprofessionals. In addition to its teaching staff, the school has five staff members in the school administration department and 14 more working as school support staff.
At Smith Middle School there are 69 female teachers and 24 male teachers. Of its teaching staff, eight special education teachers are being assisted by 13 teachers aides or paraprofessionals. In addition to its teaching staff, the school has five staff members in the school administration department and nine more working as school support staff.
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If any of these properties pique your interest, reach out to our realtors to arrange for an in-person or real-time video tour of a property. One of these could very well turn out to be your new home. Our realtors will help you navigate every step of the home buying process, and insure you find a home that fits your lifestyle and price range.
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