The top reported proficiency rate is 60% in Math. The lowest is 18% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Center for Academic Success #4 - Douglas 5-8
Center for Academic Success #4 – Douglas 5‑8 is a charter school serving fifth through eighth grade in the border city of Douglas, Arizona. It is operated by the Center for Academic Success, Inc., a charter network, and is classified as a regular school. The school’s enrollment is small, drawing almost entirely from a single demographic group. Nearly all students identify as Hispanic, with a single white student on record. The school does not report counts for students with disabilities or English learners, so a parent should ask directly about the availability of special education services and language support.
The academic picture at this school is mixed and varies noticeably by grade. On state assessments for the most recent year, fifth graders posted a strong proficiency rate in math and a solid one in English language arts, both well above typical levels for a middle school in the region. Sixth grade math results dropped sharply, a decline that a parent may want to discuss with the school. English language arts proficiency was more stable across the grade levels, with fifth graders again ahead, and sixth, seventh, and eighth graders clustered in a range that is near or slightly above the midpoint among Cochise County districts. Science results were reported for eighth graders, and they were low; the same test for fifth graders had its results suppressed, so no comparison is possible. The school’s overall proficiency index, combining all tested subjects and grades, placed it above the midpoint relative to other districts in Cochise County. Because the school only serves grades five through eight, there is no graduation rate to report.
The trend data available shows results for only two school years, which makes it difficult to see a direction. In both years, English language arts and math proficiency rates were very close to one another, with no meaningful movement up or down. A parent looking for evidence of improvement year over year will not find it here yet.
Douglas itself is a small, low-density border community that has experienced a steady population decline for years. Median household income is below the national median, and a notable share of residents live in poverty. The local economy relies on border-crossing and customs operations, retail, health care, agriculture, and public-sector employment. Housing values in the zip code are roughly half the statewide benchmark and about one-third lower than the national benchmark, making this one of the more affordable housing markets in Arizona. The school is located on F Avenue in a residential part of town, and the city’s historic downtown, with its landmarks like the Hotel Gadsden and the Grand Theatre, lies a short distance away.
The school’s website was not available in the data provided, and the district brief turned up no recent changes or initiatives to report. No information was available on program offerings such as Advanced coursework, arts, or extracurriculars, so a parent interested in those areas should check directly with the school. Discipline data, staffing ratios, and chronic absenteeism were also absent from the record.
This is a school for a parent who values a small setting and wants a charter option that offers strong fifth-grade academics and a student body that is almost entirely Hispanic. The weak spots show up in sixth grade math and eighth grade science, areas a parent would want to understand better. The combination of a declining local population, a low-cost housing market, and a school that has not yet built a multiyear track record means this is a place to visit and ask questions about middle school transition support, staffing, and how the school plans to address the dips in performance between grade levels.
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