The top reported proficiency rate is 28% in Social studies. The lowest is 12% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Curtis Middle
Curtis Middle is a small seventh- and eighth-grade school in San Bernardino serving a student population that is almost entirely economically disadvantaged. The school sits in a city that is a mix of residential neighborhoods and commercial corridors, with visible downtown redevelopment underway and a separate university district surrounding California State University San Bernardino.
The school's academic performance is substantially below the state benchmark across all measured subjects. In math, students testing as proficient were in the low teens across both grades. English language arts results were somewhat higher but still well below typical state performance, with eighth grade proficiency in the mid-twenties and seventh grade in the low twenties. Science proficiency in eighth grade was in the low teens. A snapshot of social studies results from an earlier assessment period showed proficiency near the upper twenties.
With an enrollment around seven hundred students, the school is nearly entirely composed of Hispanic students, with smaller populations of Black, Asian, and White students. Virtually the entire student body qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch. Data on the percentages of students receiving special education services and English learner support were not available; these categories are especially relevant for a school of this demographic composition and may bear on how the school allocates resources and structures support.
Among the county's districts, Curtis Middle's overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile. This indicates the school is among the lower-performing schools in San Bernardino County when proficiency rates are averaged across all tested grades and subjects. A parent may want to look into further what academic supports and interventions the school has in place, how it is addressing the proficiency gap, and what the school's strategic priorities are for closing it.
The parent district, San Bernardino City Unified, adopted a multi-year strategic plan called Vision 2030 in April 2024, which sets direction around academics, college and career readiness, equity, student wellness, and safe learning environments. The district has also structured its high schools around Linked Learning career pathways, a college and career model with work-based learning components that is well-embedded across the system. These districtwide initiatives define the broader environment Curtis Middle sits within and the expectations it operates under.
The housing market in the Curtis Middle area shows median home values that have declined slightly year-over-year. Rental costs have risen modestly, and rents consume roughly a third of typical household income in the zip code. Mortgage affordability relative to household income sits above national benchmarks.
No data was available on Curtis Middle's graduation rate, attendance, discipline practices, or course offerings specific to the school. State testing data for sixth grade was suppressed, likely due to small numbers in that grade cohort, which aligns with the school's modest enrollment. A parent evaluating this school should seek direct information from the school and district about student support services, instructional approaches, staffing, and the specific programs or strategies being deployed to address the documented proficiency gap.
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