Ricardo Middle, Kingsville TX - Test Scores & Data

Original Research by School Decision on Ricardo Middle

Ricardo Middle serves grades five through eight in Kingsville, a small city in Kleberg County shaped by Texas A&M University-Kingsville, King Ranch, and Naval Air Station Kingsville. The school enrolls a small student body with a demographic composition that is predominantly Hispanic, and about half the enrollment qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch.

In math, the school shows a striking grade-progression pattern. Sixth grade proficiency in math is just above halfway; seventh grade dips lower. But eighth grade math proficiency reaches a very strong level, suggesting either a meaningful shift in instruction or cohort composition by that final year. English language arts follows a more steady upward trajectory, starting in the low-majority range in sixth grade and climbing to a strong level by eighth grade. In science and social studies, testing occurs only in eighth grade, where performance is solid in science and above the midpoint in social studies.

Across all tested subjects and grades, the school's overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile relative to districts in Kleberg County. That is a noteworthy position within the county comparison set.

The wide variance across grade levels in math warrants close attention. Families considering this school may want to ask the staff directly what explains the jump from sixth and seventh grade results to eighth grade, and whether patterns hold consistently year to year or reflect cohort differences. The data provided does not reveal the reasons.

Grade eight stands out as the highest-performing level, with proficiency above or well above the midpoint across all subjects. Students who enter the school in earlier grades experience a span of uneven results before reaching that point.

The school's housing and community context reflects Kingsville's character. The median home value in the area sits modestly below the state benchmark, and rental rates have risen briskly in recent years. The city economy centers on education, agriculture, healthcare, and military operations. Population growth has been slow to flat in recent years, though major infrastructure projects including a multibillion-dollar direct air capture facility are expected to bring significant job creation and residential development to the region.

No information was available on discipline, attendance, course-specific offerings, or staffing. The school's website was not provided, so prospective families would benefit from direct contact with the school to learn about electives, interventions, special services, and other support structures that sit outside state assessment results.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 651%

School 51% · District 51%

▲ 17 pts above state median

Grade 744%

School 44% · District 44%

▲ 17 pts above state median

Grade 895%

School 95% · District 95%

▲ 53 pts above state median

English language arts

Grade 671%

School 71% · District 71%

▲ 19 pts above state median

Grade 759%

School 59% · District 59%

▲ 10 pts above state median

Grade 884%

School 84% · District 84%

▲ 29 pts above state median

Science

Grade 874%

School 74% · District 74%

▲ 32 pts above state median

Social studies

Grade 866%

School 66% · District 66%

▲ 42 pts above state median

This schoolRICARDO 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 5Lower-income54%Higher-income82%28 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income59%Higher-income81%22 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income44%Higher-income76%32 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income67%Higher-income97%30 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 5Lower-income54%Higher-income91%37 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income31%Higher-income68%37 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income21%Higher-income73%52 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income90%Higher-income100%10 pp gap