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 Brooks Wester Middle School, which is a part of MANSFIELD ISD, with Donna Shepard Academy, which is a part of MANSFIELD ISD, we noted a big difference in ratings.
Brooks Wester Middle School’s regular student population is 1,049 with a 15.4 students/teacher ratio. The student population at Donna Shepard Academy is 840 students and a 13.6 students/teacher ratio.
Brooks Wester 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 92 in student achievement, 91 in school progress and 96 in closing performance gaps. It scored 93 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, Donna Shepard Academy earned a State accountability rating of C. The school posted 80 in student achievement, 79 in school progress, 76 in closing performance gaps and 79 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.
Brooks Wester Middle School'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. Donna Shepard Academy did not earn any distinction.
Based on Racial/Ethnic Groups, Whites or Caucasians comprise the biggest group at Brooks Wester Middle School. They make up for 38.42% of student population, followed by Hispanics (23.45%), African Americans (23.07%), Asians (8.67%), Two or More Races (5.72%) and Native Americans (0.38%).
The student population at Donna Shepard Academy is also predominantly by Whites or Caucasians at 40.60%, followed by Hispanics (36.07%), African Americans (16.19%), Two or More Races (4.76%) and Asians (2.38%). There is no Native Americans student in the school.
Based on household incomes, the Brooks Wester Middle School’s economically disadvantaged students is significantly lower at 32.89% compared to 50.00% at Donna Shepard 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, Brooks Wester Middle School has 55 English Language Learners or ELLS or about 5.24% of student population. Donna Shepard Academy has significantly more ELLs at 162 or about 19.29% of student population.
Brooks Wester Middle School’s bilingual students comprise 5.24%, gifted and talented students, 23.45%, while 11.34% are in the special education program. Donna Shepard Academy bilingual students comprise 22.02%, gifted and talented students, 7.50%, and 13.45% are in the special education program.
Brooks Wester Middle School's 68 teachers have been working at the campus for an average of 9.3 years with individual teaching experience averaging 13.3 years. Teachers at Donna Shepard Academy, numbering 61 teachers, have been serving the school for an average of 7.5 years with individual teaching experience averaging 12.3 years.
Of its teaching staff, Brooks Wester Middle School has one teacher only serving the school for over 30 years, has 11 teachers serving the school for 20-30 years, 23 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 one beginning teacher only. Donna Shepard Academy has one teacher only serving the school for over 30 years, has ten teachers serving the school for 20-30 years, 18 teachers have worked for 11-20 years, 23 teachers have worked for 6-10 years, while seven teachers have been serving the school for over 1-5 years, including two beginning teachers.
In both schools, female teachers outnumber the male teachers. At Brooks Wester Middle School there are 43 female teachers and 24 male teachers. Of its teaching staff, nine 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.
At Donna Shepard Academy there are 54 female teachers and six male teachers. Of its teaching staff, ten special education teachers are being assisted by six teachers aides or paraprofessionals. In addition to its teaching staff, the school has three staff members in the school administration department and five more working as school support staff.
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