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 Forest Meadow Middle School, which is a part of RICHARDSON ISD, with Alex W Spence Talented/gifted Academy, which is a part of DALLAS ISD, we noted a big difference in ratings.
Forest Meadow Middle School’s regular student population is 1,211 with a 13.7 students/teacher ratio. The student population at Alex W Spence Talented/gifted Academy is 486 students and a 16 students/teacher ratio.
Forest Meadow Middle School earned a State accountability rating of C (70-79) 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 73 in student achievement, 79 in school progress and 70 in closing performance gaps. It scored 76 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, Alex W Spence Talented/gifted Academy performed excellent to earn a State accountability rating of A. The school posted 81 in student achievement, 91 in school progress, 89 in closing performance gaps and 90 overall in post-secondary readiness.
| Rating |
C
Average
|
|---|---|
| Student Achievement | 73 |
| Student Progress | 79 |
| Closing Performance Gaps | 70 |
| Overall | 76 |
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. Forest Meadow Middle School’s only distinction designation is in Read/ELA. Alex W Spence Talented/gifted Academy's six out of seven distinctions are in Reading/English Language Arts (ELA), Mathematics, Social Studies, post-secondary, with 25% student progress and 25% closing performance gaps.
| Distinctions |
|
|---|
| Distinctions |
|
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Based on Racial/Ethnic Groups, African Americans comprise the biggest group at Forest Meadow Middle School. They make up for 33.44% of student population, followed by Hispanics (32.95%), Whites or Caucasians (19.98%), Asians (10.98%), Two or More Races (1.73%) and Native Americans (0.83%).
At Alex W Spence Talented/gifted Academy, Hispanics are the biggest group, comprising 61.73% of student population, followed by African Americans (29.22%), Whites or Caucasians (3.91%), Asians (2.06%), Two or More Races (2.06%) and Native Americans (1.03%).
Based on household incomes, the Forest Meadow Middle School’s economically disadvantaged students is significantly lower at 70.02% compared to 90.74% at Alex W Spence Talented/gifted Academy.
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, Forest Meadow Middle School has a significantly higher number of English Language Learners comprising 38.32% of its student population compared to 47.53% at Alex W Spence Talented/gifted Academy.
In addition, Forest Meadow Middle School has 38.32% bilingual students, 16.60% are in the gifted and talented program, while 12.80% are in the special education program. This stacks up against Alex W Spence Talented/gifted Academy with 45.88% bilingual students, 34.98% gifted and talented students and 10.29% students in the special education program.
| Racial/Ethnic Groups | Percentage | Students |
|---|---|---|
| African American | 33.44% | 405 |
| Hispanic | 32.95% | 399 |
| White | 19.98% | 242 |
| Asian | 10.98% | 133 |
| Native American | 0.83% | 10 |
| Two or More Races | 1.73% | 21 |
| Total Students | 100.00% | 1,211 |
| Eco Disadvantaged | 70.02% | 848 |
| Limited English Proficiency | 38.32% | 464 |
| Total Students | 100% | 1,211 |
| Racial/Ethnic Groups | Percentage | Students |
|---|---|---|
| African American | 29.22% | 142 |
| Hispanic | 61.73% | 300 |
| White | 3.91% | 19 |
| Asian | 2.06% | 10 |
| Native American | 1.03% | 5 |
| Two or More Races | 2.06% | 10 |
| Total Students | 100.00% | 486 |
| Eco Disadvantaged | 90.74% | 441 |
| Limited English Proficiency | 47.53% | 231 |
| Total Students | 100% | 486 |
| Program | Percentage | Students |
|---|---|---|
| Bilingual | 38.32% | 464 |
| Gifted & Talented | 16.60% | 201 |
| Special Education | 12.80% | 155 |
| Teacher Student Ratio | 1.13% | 14 |
| Total Students | 100% | 1,211 |
| Program | Percentage | Students |
|---|---|---|
| Bilingual | 45.88% | 223 |
| Gifted & Talented | 34.98% | 170 |
| Special Education | 10.29% | 50 |
| Teacher Student Ratio | 3.29% | 16 |
| Total Students | 100% | 486 |
Forest Meadow Middle School's 88 teachers have been working at the campus for an average of 5 years with individual teaching experience averaging 9.9 years. Teachers at Alex W Spence Talented/gifted Academy, numbering 30 teachers, have been serving the school for an average of 6.6 years with individual teaching experience averaging 8.2 years.
Of its teaching staff, Forest Meadow Middle School has two teachers serving the school for over 30 years, has seven teachers serving the school for 20-30 years, 21 teachers have worked for 11-20 years, 23 teachers have worked for 6-10 years, while 26 teachers have been serving the school for over 1-5 years, including nine beginning teachers. Alex W Spence Talented/gifted Academy no teacher serving the school for over 30 years, has three teachers serving the school for 20-30 years, six teachers have worked for 11-20 years, five teachers have worked for 6-10 years, while 15 teachers have been serving the school for over 1-5 years, including one beginning teacher only.
In both schools, female teachers outnumber the male teachers. At Forest Meadow Middle School there are 63 female teachers and 25 male teachers. Of its teaching staff, 13 special education teachers are being assisted by six teachers aides or paraprofessionals. In addition to its teaching staff, the school has five staff members in the school administration department and seven more working as school support staff.
At Alex W Spence Talented/gifted Academy there are 18 female teachers and 12 male teachers. Of its teaching staff, four special education teachers are being assisted by three teachers aides or paraprofessionals. In addition to its teaching staff, the school has two staff members in the school administration department and three more working as school support staff.
| Metric | Percentage | Teachers |
|---|---|---|
| Over 30 years | 2.49% | 2 |
| 20 - 30 years | 8.37% | 7 |
| 10 - 20 years | 23.87% | 21 |
| 6 - 10 years | 25.45% | 23 |
| 1- 5 years | 29.75% | 26 |
| Beginning Teacher | 10.07% | 9 |
| Teacher Experience Average | 9.9 yrs | |
| Teacher Tenure Average | 5 yrs | |
| Total Teachers | 100% | 88 |
| Metric | Percentage | Teachers |
|---|---|---|
| Over 30 years | - | - |
| 20 - 30 years | 9.87% | 3 |
| 10 - 20 years | 21.05% | 6 |
| 6 - 10 years | 16.45% | 5 |
| 1- 5 years | 49.34% | 15 |
| Beginning Teacher | 3.29% | 1 |
| Teacher Experience Average | 8.2 yrs | |
| Teacher Tenure Average | 6.6 yrs | |
| Total Teachers | 100% | 30 |
| Type | Percentage | Teachers |
|---|---|---|
| Female Teachers | 71.49% | 63 |
| Male Teachers | 28.51% | 25 |
| School Admin | 6 | |
| School Support | 7 | |
| Edu Aids | 6 | |
| Special Education | 12 | |
| Total Teachers | 100% | 88 |
| Type | Percentage | Teachers |
|---|---|---|
| Female Teachers | 60.53% | 18 |
| Male Teachers | 39.47% | 12 |
| School Admin | 2 | |
| School Support | 3 | |
| Edu Aids | 3 | |
| Special Education | 3 | |
| Total Teachers | 100% | 30 |
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