Charles Middle, El Paso TX - Test Scores & Data

Original Research by School Decision on Charles Middle

Charles Middle serves grades six through eight in the East El Paso area, drawing a student body that is overwhelmingly Hispanic and economically disadvantaged. Most students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the wider economic challenges of the region. The school enrolls a small to mid-sized population typical of a neighborhood middle school within a large urban district.

In mathematics, Charles Middle shows uneven performance across its grade bands. Sixth-graders demonstrate modest proficiency, while seventh-grade performance drops sharply. Eighth graders recover significantly, achieving proficiency rates in the middle range. This grade-to-grade variation suggests either differences in cohort readiness, curriculum transitions, or inconsistent support structures. English language arts performance is more stable and somewhat stronger across all grades, with a majority of sixth and eighth graders meeting or exceeding proficiency standards. Seventh grade dips slightly but remains close to the pattern seen in earlier grades. Science performance in eighth grade and social studies both fall short of the ELA and math results on average, with social studies showing the lowest proficiency of any tested subject.

When compared to other districts across El Paso County, Charles Middle sits in the top quartile for overall proficiency—an important strength suggesting the school performs well relative to its county neighbors despite the economic and demographic challenges it faces. This positioning matters for a parent trying to understand whether the school is doing well by its actual peer group and context.

The school operates within El Paso ISD, a large urban district currently navigating substantial change. The district approved a major restructuring plan called Destination District Redesign in 2024, closing six elementary schools in 2025-26 and two more in 2026-27 in response to declining enrollment and budget strain. While Charles Middle is not among the closed schools, the district's overall enrollment pressure and budget constraints affect school resources and staffing. At the same time, EPISD has been expanding specialized programs including Montessori education, STEM and Fine Arts academies, and Extended Day Learning Centers across various campuses, though it is unclear whether Charles Middle currently hosts any of these offerings.

The property tax environment has shifted slightly in the district's favor. EPISD lowered its tax rate for 2024-25 below its voter-approval threshold, the only El Paso County district to do so. However, rising property values mean homeowners typically see an overall increase in bills despite the lower rate. The district is also moving toward a potential bond election as soon as November 2026 to renovate aging campuses, replace cooling systems, and improve security. This would carry tax implications and determine facility quality going forward.

El Paso itself is a border city experiencing simultaneous downtown revitalization and suburban expansion on its far east and west edges. Charles Middle sits in the east part of the city, in a predominantly residential area. Housing costs in the area are moderate relative to the nation, and the neighborhood reflects the binational culture and family-oriented character that defines much of greater El Paso. Parents weighing Charles Middle should ask the school directly about current specialized program availability, the details of any busing changes resulting from the ongoing district consolidation, and facility condition and upgrade timelines.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 633%

School 33% · District 28% · ▲ 5 pts above district

▼ 1 pts below state median · ▼ 1 pts below county median

Grade 711%

School 11% · District 3% · ▲ 8 pts above district

▼ 16 pts below state median · ▼ 9 pts below county median

Grade 848%

School 48% · District 33% · ▲ 15 pts above district

▲ 6 pts above state median · ▲ 3 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 657%

School 57% · District 50% · ▲ 7 pts above district

▲ 5 pts above state median · ▲ 7 pts above county median

Grade 752%

School 52% · District 47% · ▲ 5 pts above district

▲ 3 pts above state median · ▲ 1 pts above county median

Grade 855%

School 55% · District 52% · ▲ 3 pts above district

even with state median · ▼ 2 pts below county median

Science

Grade 855%

School 55% · District 47% · ▲ 8 pts above district

▲ 13 pts above state median · ▲ 7 pts above county median

Social studies

Grade 822%

School 22% · District 24% · ▼ 2 pts below district

▼ 2 pts below state median · ▼ 2 pts below county median

This schoolEL PASO ISD, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 6Lower-income53%Higher-income76%23 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income47%Higher-income81%34 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income51%Higher-income74%23 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 6Lower-income30%Higher-income48%18 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income42%Higher-income83%41 pp gap