How strong are the public middle schools in Dallas?
With a fresh school year kicking off, we analyzed newly released data from Niche.com — which include comprehensive report cards, rankings and reviews — to identify those schools that made the biggest strides last year and those that lead their peers.
D.A. Hulcy Steam Middle School's overall rating improved the most among similar schools in Dallas, rising from a B- to a B, according to data from Niche.
For the 2019-2020 school year, the school, located at 9339 S. Polk St., enrolls 376 students. D.A. Hulcy Steam Middle School serves a diverse population: 52% of students identify as Hispanic and 47% identify as black. Niche graded the school a B for academics (on an A-D scale).
The overall ranking comes from Niche's proprietary algorithms. A school's ranking might change due to many factors, including the relative rankings of similar schools and whether a school gained or lost peers due to openings or closings. Other numbers come from current public data from the U.S. government.
Academically, 83% of D.A. Hulcy Steam Middle School's students scored as proficient or above in math, and 76% did so in reading. That's compared to city averages of 72% in math and 68% in reading. The school's improved overall rating is notable in that it serves a less-affluent population, with 85% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch.
It's not the only school that's climbed Niche's rankings this year. Rosemont Middle School saw its overall rating improve from a B to a B+. The school is located at 719 N. Montclair Ave. and is a bit smaller, currently serving 191 students.
Niche graded Rosemont Middle School an A- for academics on an A-D scale. The school's latest math proficiency was at 92%, and reading proficiency was 87%. It also serves a less-affluent population, with 86% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch.
Alex Sanger Preparatory Middle School also saw improvement in its overall rating, from C- to C. The school is located at 8410 San Leandro Drive and has 108 students currently enrolled, of whom 80% identify as Hispanic and 12% identify as white.
Niche graded Alex Sanger Preparatory Middle School a C for academics on an A-D scale. Its latest math proficiency was at 67%, and reading proficiency was 62%. The school has 88% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch.
While some public middle schools in Dallas are moving up the ranks, others are consistently top-rated overall, including:
- McCulloch Intermediate School, with an overall rating of A+.
- Highland Park Middle School, with an A+ rating overall.
- Frankford Middle School, rated A overall.
Want more of the latest intel on Dallas schools? Hoodline also analyzed the latest Niche ratings for the city's charter high schools.
This story was created automatically using data from Niche.com, then reviewed by an editor before publication. Click here for more about how and why Hoodline is automating local news. Got thoughts about what we're doing? Go here to share your feedback.
