Stem Academy at Hedrick Middle, Lewisville TX

Original Research by School Decision on Stem Academy at Hedrick Middle

STEM Academy at Hedrick Middle is a grades 6 through 8 public school in Lewisville, serving roughly a mid-sized cohort of students organized as three class-level groups. The school sits within Lewisville ISD, which serves the broader city and surrounding communities in Denton County.

**Academic Performance and Strengths**

The school's recent state testing shows uneven performance. In English Language Arts, proficiency is at or above the approaches level for about two-thirds of students overall, which is a relative strength; eighth-grade ELA proficiency in particular exceeds approaches or meets standards at a meaningful rate. In mathematics, a smaller share of students achieve proficiency, with particularly low proficiency in sixth and seventh grade, though eighth grade shows better results. Science and social studies proficiency are limited overall; state testing data shows that science and social studies testing occurs only in eighth grade, where less than half of students reach proficiency.

Across the school, the share of students reaching the "masters" level (the highest proficiency band) is very small in every subject, typically in the single digits. The school's overall proficiency index, when compared against other districts in Denton County, places it in the bottom quartile of that group, indicating performance well below the county median.

**Student Population and Setting**

The enrollment is stable at roughly mid-sized numbers for a middle school of its grade span. A substantial majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting a lower-income student body. The student population is predominantly Hispanic, with a significant Asian enrollment and smaller Black and white cohorts. Two data gaps exist: the school's file does not report counts or rates for students with Individualized Education Programs or for English learners, so a parent may want to confirm those figures directly with the school.

**Community Context**

Lewisville itself is a mixed-character Dallas-Fort Worth suburb combining single-family neighborhoods, lake-adjacent living, and commercial and industrial activity. The city has been investing in redevelopment of its historic Old Town core, with new mixed-use residential and dining projects, though the broader city remains car-oriented. Major employers include Sysco Foods, Mary Kay, Kellogg's, and FedEx. The local housing market shows modest recent decline, though median rents remain steady. The area is served by the DCTA A-train commuter rail, which connects to Dallas via the DART Green Line.

**District Change and Outlook**

Lewisville ISD recently approved a substantial bond in November 2023 funding facility maintenance, security, and technology upgrades, along with a tax-rate election adding operating revenue for staff pay and instructional programs. However, the district also announced in December 2024 that it will close five elementary schools and rezone attendance boundaries effective in the 2025-26 school year, in response to declining enrollment and budget constraints. For the current school year, the district adopted a cell phone ban during the school day. These changes reflect ongoing enrollment pressure and shifting priorities that families should track as they consider school choice.

**What to Explore**

Because the school's state test results show substantial gaps in proficiency, particularly in mathematics and science, a parent may want to learn more directly from school staff about curriculum, tutoring options, and how STEM-focused instruction (suggested by the school's name) is integrated into practice. Clarifying enrollment counts for special education and English learner populations would also be useful, as those data are not yet visible in public reporting.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 625%

School 25% · District 47% · ▼ 22 pts below district

▼ 9 pts below state median · ▼ 19 pts below county median

Grade 715%

School 15% · District 27% · ▼ 12 pts below district

▼ 12 pts below state median · ▼ 14 pts below county median

Grade 838%

School 38% · District 52% · ▼ 14 pts below district

▼ 4 pts below state median · ▼ 6 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 639%

School 39% · District 63% · ▼ 24 pts below district

▼ 13 pts below state median · ▼ 28 pts below county median

Grade 738%

School 38% · District 60% · ▼ 22 pts below district

▼ 11 pts below state median · ▼ 21 pts below county median

Grade 845%

School 45% · District 66% · ▼ 21 pts below district

▼ 10 pts below state median · ▼ 24 pts below county median

Science

Grade 834%

School 34% · District 52% · ▼ 18 pts below district

▼ 8 pts below state median · ▼ 17 pts below county median

Social studies

Grade 813%

School 13% · District 39% · ▼ 26 pts below district

▼ 11 pts below state median · ▼ 20 pts below county median

This schoolLEWISVILLE 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-income32%Higher-income59%27 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income32%Higher-income58%26 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income40%Higher-income62%22 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 6Lower-income18%Higher-income45%27 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income10%Higher-income33%23 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income32%Higher-income56%24 pp gap