Pearson Ranch Middle, Round Rock TX

Original Research by School Decision on Pearson Ranch Middle

Pearson Ranch Middle is a mid-sized middle school in Round Rock, Texas, serving sixth through eighth grade. The school sits in a fast-growing suburban community north of Austin that has been expanding rapidly, driven by the presence of Dell Technologies and other major employers, new residential subdivisions, and significant infrastructure projects like The District, a large mixed-use development announced for the near future.

The school's academic profile shows strength in English/language arts and sharp grade-level variation in mathematics. In sixth grade, students show solid performance in both reading and math. By seventh grade, however, math proficiency drops markedly, a pattern that reverses in eighth grade where mathematics becomes the school's strongest subject area. English/language arts remains consistently strong across all three grades. In eighth-grade science, students perform at a moderate level, while social studies proficiency is lower. Overall, the school reaches proficiency or above the "meets" standard across all tested subjects; when measured at the "masters" level, which denotes advanced performance, the school exceeds the state's midpoint proficiency among Williamson County districts.

The school draws a student body that is majority Asian, reflecting Round Rock's demographic composition as a prosperous suburban area with significant populations of Asian families. A small share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a relatively affluent catchment area overall. The school is part of Round Rock ISD, which serves the growing city and surrounding areas. The district has undertaken significant recent changes, including adoption of the Bluebonnet Learning math curriculum for middle grades (replacing prior programs), passage of a bond in November 2024 that will fund infrastructure repairs and a new Career and Technical Education facility, and recent property tax rate reductions that may appeal to families weighing the cost of living in the area.

Housing values in the school's area are above state averages; rent is moderate relative to household income. The community offers downtown walkability concentrated in the historic core along Main Street, though the city overall follows a car-dependent suburban pattern. Round Rock ISD has recently committed to preserving bus service for all currently eligible students after a period of uncertainty about route cuts, which is relevant for families relying on transportation.

The seventh-grade mathematics dip warrants attention from parents, who may want to ask the school about the causes and what interventions or supports are available as students move through this grade. Beyond that specific point, the school's profile suggests a generally capable middle school in a growing, prosperous community with engaged families and access to district-wide improvements in progress.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 655%

School 55% · District 59% · ▼ 4 pts below district

▲ 21 pts above state median · ▼ 3 pts below county median

Grade 730%

School 30% · District 23% · ▲ 7 pts above district

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

Grade 881%

School 81% · District 72% · ▲ 9 pts above district

▲ 39 pts above state median · ▲ 27 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 677%

School 77% · District 68% · ▲ 9 pts above district

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

Grade 777%

School 77% · District 66% · ▲ 11 pts above district

▲ 28 pts above state median · ▲ 23 pts above county median

Grade 878%

School 78% · District 68% · ▲ 10 pts above district

▲ 23 pts above state median · ▲ 12 pts above county median

Science

Grade 869%

School 69% · District 63% · ▲ 6 pts above district

▲ 27 pts above state median · ▲ 19 pts above county median

Social studies

Grade 859%

School 59% · District 51% · ▲ 8 pts above district

▲ 35 pts above state median · ▲ 25 pts above county median

This schoolROUND ROCK 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-income34%Higher-income88%54 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income38%Higher-income85%47 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income34%Higher-income88%54 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 6Lower-income19%Higher-income69%50 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income14%Higher-income49%35 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income32%Higher-income88%56 pp gap