The top reported proficiency rate is 72% in English language arts. The lowest is 26% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on New Diana Middle
New Diana Middle School serves sixth through eighth grade in Diana, an unincorporated rural community in eastern Upshur County. Diana sits along a highway corridor north of Longview, with no traditional downtown and civic life centered almost entirely on the New Diana ISD campus cluster at the intersection of two state routes. The school shares a campus footprint with the high school, and some homes sit directly across the street. It is a small middle school by most measures, drawing from surrounding agricultural and residential land that has seen a steady wave of newer construction as families relocate from Longview and other nearby cities.
On Texas STAAR assessments, the school shows a clear split by subject. Reading and writing performance across all three grade levels is genuinely strong: the large majority of students in grades six, seven, and eight are reading at or above grade-level proficiency, and when you look at the "meets grade level" threshold, roughly three in four students in ELA clear it. A meaningful share reach the top "masters" tier in reading. Math lands in the middle range, with roughly half of students in each grade reaching proficiency, and the share reaching masters is modest. Science results for eighth graders are softer, with fewer than half reaching proficiency and only a small fraction hitting the masters level. The eighth-grade social studies score is the most notable gap in the data: fewer than one in three students tested at or above the "meets" threshold, and the masters rate is low. Parents whose student is headed toward eighth-grade social studies may want to ask the school directly about how that subject is supported. Trend data covers only the current year, so there is no multi-year trajectory to assess.
Positioned relative to districts in Upshur County, the school's overall proficiency index sits above the midpoint of the county cohort, which includes seven districts. That places it in the upper half locally, though not at the ceiling of that group.
About two in five students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which points to a moderately economically mixed student body. The enrollment is predominantly white, with smaller shares of Hispanic, Black, and multiracial students. IEP and English learner counts were not available in the data provided. The school is a regular public school with no charter or magnet designation, and no specialized program offerings were present in the data.
Diana itself is growing. A large share of its housing stock is comparatively new, builders are active with planned subdivisions offering modern amenities including fiber internet, and the draw from larger nearby cities has been consistent. Home values in the zip code are modestly below the Texas state median, and currently trending slightly down year over year, which may matter to families weighing a purchase. Rental data was not available. The community is car-dependent; daily life requires a vehicle, and most working adults commute to Longview, Gilmer, or similar employment centers. The county offers reservation-based door-to-door transit rather than fixed-route service. Public library access means a trip to Gilmer, the county seat.
Two recent district decisions are worth knowing. In late 2023, New Diana ISD voters approved a tax ratification election that raised the maintenance and operations rate, generating new operating funds annually. The district cited budget deficits, inflation, difficulty filling teaching positions, and previously cut programs as reasons for the ask. That rate increase is now permanent and reflected in property tax bills. Separately, a bond election was placed before voters in May 2024 covering both Upshur and Harrison Counties; the specific projects and the outcome of that vote were not confirmed in the sources available, so families should verify current status with the district directly.
Graduation rate data does not apply here because New Diana Middle serves only grades six through eight. No civil rights data, discipline data, or attendance figures were present in the data provided.
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