Original Research by School Decision on Richard Milburn Academy Midland
Richard Milburn Academy Midland is a small charter high school serving grades nine through twelve as an alternative or dropout-recovery program. It sits in one of Texas's most economically robust cities, Midland, an oil-and-gas hub that has shaped itself around energy industry employment and ranks among the nation's highest per-capita income regions. The school moved to new facilities on Midland Drive in 2024, a physical expansion tied to the program's mission to serve more students. State academic data from 2024-25 shows highly uneven performance across subjects. Students approach proficiency at solid rates in science and social studies, but performance in English language arts and especially mathematics is weak. In math, no students reached the "meets" or "masters" proficiency levels. These results reflect the school's role as a dropout-recovery program; it is designed to serve students at substantial risk of leaving school, not as a comprehensive high school pathway for college preparation.
The enrollment is small, fewer than a hundred students spread across the four grade levels, with more than half qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. The student body is predominantly Hispanic, with smaller numbers of white and Black students. Special education and English learner enrollment data are not available in the reporting, a gap consistent with alternative school operations that often serve mixed populations. The school is part of Richard Milburn Alter High School, a charter operator headquartered in Killeen that runs nine campuses statewide. Beginning in 2025-26, all RMA campuses, including Midland, offer universal free breakfast to every student regardless of family income, removing a recurring meal cost. As an open-enrollment charter, the school levies no local property tax; families moving to the Midland area to access this program carry no school-district property-tax obligation tied to it.
Academically, the school's low and unevenly distributed proficiency rates reflect both its student population and its mission. It is not a traditional comprehensive high school. Students at this school are typically credit-deficient or facing barriers to completion in conventional settings. State accountability ratings for the district overall are a C, and the four-year graduation rate sits well below the statewide average, a direct result of serving a population of students at high dropout risk. A parent or student considering enrollment should view this school through that lens: it exists to re-engage students who have fallen off track, not to provide the range of AP, honors, and college-prep pathways found in standard high schools. The housing market in Midland itself remains stable and moderately valued relative to state and national benchmarks, and the city's economy supports a steady job market, particularly in energy-related fields. For families seeking a second-chance pathway or credit-recovery program in a growing city with solid employment prospects, Richard Milburn Midland fills that niche. A parent may want to look into further with the school what specific support services, course sequencing, and graduation pathways are available to students based on their individual credit and transcript needs.
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