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.
We are making this task easier for you by comparing two above average middle schools: Thomas J Rusk Middle School and W E Greiner Exploratory Arts Academy. We compiled relevant data for you to be able to make an informed decision. Both schools are under the jurisdiction of the DALLAS ISD.
Thomas J Rusk Middle School’s regular student population is 514 with a 13.1 students/teacher ratio. The student population at W E Greiner Exploratory Arts Academy is 1,502 students and a 14.5 students/teacher ratio.
Thomas J Rusk 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 71 in student achievement, 83 in school progress and 74 in closing performance gaps. It scored 82 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, W E Greiner Exploratory Arts Academy also earned a State accountability rating of B. The school posted 78 in student achievement, 88 in school progress, 85 in closing performance gaps and 84 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. Thomas J Rusk Middle School’s two out of seven distinctions are in Social Studies and post-secondary. W E Greiner Exploratory Arts Academy's three out of seven distinctions are in Social Studies, post-secondary and 25% closing performance gaps.
Based on Racial/Ethnic Groups, the dominant group in Thomas J Rusk Middle School is Hispanics who make up nearly 68.29% of student population, followed by African Americans (25.88%), Whites or Caucasians (2.53%), Asians (1.75%) and Two or More Races (1.36%). There is no Native Americans student in the school.
At W E Greiner Exploratory Arts Academy, Hispanics make up 90.21% of student population, followed by African Americans (5.99%), Whites or Caucasians (2.86%), Native Americans (0.53%) and Two or More Races (0.40%). There is no Asians student in the school.
Based on household incomes, Thomas J Rusk Middle School’s economically disadvantaged students is significantly higher at 95.72% compared to 79.49% at W E Greiner Exploratory Arts 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, Thomas J Rusk Middle School has 275 English Language Learners or ELLS or about 53.50% of student population. W E Greiner Exploratory Arts Academy has significantly more ELLs at 732 or about 48.74% of student population.
In addition, Thomas J Rusk Middle School has 48.83% bilingual students, 16.73% are in the gifted and talented program, while 14.79% are in the special education program. This stacks up against W E Greiner Exploratory Arts Academy with 44.54% bilingual students, 29.89% gifted and talented students and 8.12% students in the special education program.
Thomas J Rusk Middle School's 39 teachers have been working at the campus for an average of 8 years with individual teaching experience averaging 10.5 years. Teachers at W E Greiner Exploratory Arts Academy, numbering 103 teachers, have been serving the school for an average of 6.8 years with individual teaching experience averaging 8.5 years.
Of its teaching staff, Thomas J Rusk Middle School has one teacher only serving the school for over 30 years, has six teachers serving the school for 20-30 years, six teachers have worked for 11-20 years, ten teachers have worked for 6-10 years, while 12 teachers have been serving the school for over 1-5 years, including four beginning teachers. W E Greiner Exploratory Arts Academy has two teachers serving the school for over 30 years, has nine teachers serving the school for 20-30 years, 23 teachers have worked for 11-20 years, 18 teachers have worked for 6-10 years, while 44 teachers have been serving the school for over 1-5 years, including eight beginning teachers.
In both schools, female teachers outnumber the male teachers. At Thomas J Rusk Middle School there are 23 female teachers and 16 male teachers. Of its teaching staff, six special education teachers are being assisted by eight teachers aides or paraprofessionals. In addition to its teaching staff, the school has five staff members in the school administration department and six more working as school support staff.
At W E Greiner Exploratory Arts Academy there are 63 female teachers and 40 male teachers. Of its teaching staff, seven special education teachers are being assisted by four teachers aides or paraprofessionals. In addition to its teaching staff, the school has six staff members in the school administration department and seven more working as school support staff.
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