The top reported proficiency rate is 44% in English language arts. The lowest is 7% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Mata Int
MATA INT is a middle school serving fifth and sixth grades in Houston's southwest suburbs, located within Alief ISD. It sits in a zone where the school market and the local housing market are both showing real constraints.
The school's test results tell a clear story of struggle. On the most recent STAAR assessments, proficiency rates across subjects are well below grade level. In English language arts, roughly half of fifth graders met or exceeded standards, but sixth-grade performance dropped to about four in ten. Mathematics is steeper: only about one in four sixth graders reached proficiency, and in fifth-grade math, just one in seven students tested at or above standard. Science proficiency was extremely low, with fewer than one in ten fifth graders meeting the bar. Across all tested subjects combined, the school's proficiency index sits below the midpoint for districts in Harris County. These results suggest a student population facing substantial academic gaps, and the school is working with limited margin to close them.
The student body reflects the demographics of south Houston. About seven in ten students identify as Hispanic, roughly one in five as Black, and the remainder across other groups. A very large majority—around nine in ten—qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, marking one of the highest concentrations of economic need in the area. No data was available on the share of English learners or students with IEPs, so a parent would want to ask the school directly about those populations and the support services available.
The school draws from a neighborhood where housing is relatively affordable by Houston area standards. The zip code median home value is modest, and rents are comparatively low, making this part of the metro accessible to families with tight budgets. The Harris County housing market more broadly shows steady activity with moderate supply, and prices in this area have remained stable over the past year. This is a place where families often make their first entry into homeownership or rent without the constraints faced in more expensive neighborhoods.
Alief ISD, the parent district, covers a large area of southwest Houston and surrounding suburbs. District-level strategic information was not readily available, so a parent should contact Alief ISD directly to understand current priorities, teacher staffing levels, and initiatives aimed at closing achievement gaps. The school's website was not provided, so direct outreach to MATA INT will be important for understanding what additional support the school offers—whether through tutoring, summer school, intervention blocks, or partnerships with families.
For families seeking a middle school pathway in this part of Houston, MATA INT represents an open-access public school in an economically integrated but relatively under-resourced area. The academic results show students are not yet meeting grade-level standards at rates the school and district would want. A parent considering this school should ask specifically about the school's instructional approach, teacher qualifications, reading intervention programs, and plans to address the weak math and science performance. The location offers affordability and community stability, but academic support will be critical to any student's progress.
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