For the 2026 school year, there are 20 public middle schools serving 14,984 students in Ellis County, TX.
The top-ranked public middle schools in Ellis County, TX are Palmer Middle School, Walnut Grove Middle School and Earl & Marthalu Dieterich Middle School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Ellis County, TX public middle schools have an average math proficiency score of 41% (versus the Texas public middle school average of 43%), and reading proficiency score of 47% (versus the 52% statewide average). Middle schools in Ellis County have an average ranking of 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of Texas public middle schools.
Minority enrollment is 71% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Texas public middle school average of 75% (majority Hispanic).
Best Public Middle Schools in Ellis County (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Palmer Middle School
(Math: 57% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
118 F M 813
Palmer, TX 75152
(972) 449-3319
Palmer, TX 75152
(972) 449-3319
Gr: 5-8 | 423 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 51%
Rank: #22.
Walnut Grove Middle School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
990 N Walnut Grove Rd
Midlothian, TX 76065
(469) 856-5700
Midlothian, TX 76065
(469) 856-5700
Gr: 6-8 | 1,012 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 39%
Rank: #33.
Earl & Marthalu Dieterich Middle School
(Math: 59% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
2881 Ledgestone Ln
Midlothian, TX 76065
(469) 856-5800
Midlothian, TX 76065
(469) 856-5800
Gr: 6-8 | 989 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 41%
Rank: #44.
Maypearl Middle School
(Math: 49% | Reading: 52%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
1025 W Fourth
Maypearl, TX 76064
(972) 435-1015
Maypearl, TX 76064
(972) 435-1015
Gr: 6-8 | 265 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 35%
Rank: #55.
Howard J High School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
265 Broadhead Rd
Waxahachie, TX 75165
(972) 923-4771
Waxahachie, TX 75165
(972) 923-4771
Gr: 6-8 | 918 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 69%
Rank: #66.
Finley J High School
(Math: 46% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
2401 E Brown St
Waxahachie, TX 75165
(972) 923-4680
Waxahachie, TX 75165
(972) 923-4680
Gr: 6-8 | 839 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 64%
Rank: #77.
Coleman J High School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1000 Hwy 77 N
Waxahachie, TX 75165
(972) 923-4790
Waxahachie, TX 75165
(972) 923-4790
Gr: 6-8 | 775 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 63%
Rank: #88.
Ennis J High School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 52%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
3101 Ensign Rd
Ennis, TX 75119
(972) 872-3850
Ennis, TX 75119
(972) 872-3850
Gr: 7-8 | 908 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 75%
Rank: #99.
Life Middle Waxahachie
Charter School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
3295 N Us Hwy 77
Red Oak, TX 75154
(972) 937-0715
Red Oak, TX 75154
(972) 937-0715
Gr: 7-8 | 551 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 88%
Rank: #1010.
Italy High School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
300 S College
Italy, TX 76651
(972) 483-7411
Italy, TX 76651
(972) 483-7411
Gr: 7-12 | 283 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 49%
Rank: #1111.
Frank Seale Middle School
(Math: 42% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
700 George Hopper Rd
Midlothian, TX 76065
(469) 856-5600
Midlothian, TX 76065
(469) 856-5600
Gr: 6-8 | 726 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 65%
Rank: #1212.
Curtistene S Mccowan Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 35% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
1500 Majestic Meadows Dr
Red Oak, TX 75154
(972) 274-8090
Red Oak, TX 75154
(972) 274-8090
Gr: 6-8 | 643 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #1313.
Ferris J High School
(Math: 32% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
1002 E 8th St
Ferris, TX 75125
(972) 544-3737
Ferris, TX 75125
(972) 544-3737
Gr: 6-8 | 658 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 85%
Rank: #1414.
Red Oak Middle School
(Math: 29% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
152 Louise Ritter Blvd
Red Oak, TX 75154
(972) 617-0066
Red Oak, TX 75154
(972) 617-0066
Gr: 6-8 | 1,488 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 84%
Rank: #1515.
Life School Mountain Creek
Charter School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
5525 W Illinois Ave
Red Oak, TX 75154
(214) 623-0012
Red Oak, TX 75154
(214) 623-0012
Gr: K-8 | 354 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
Rank: #1616.
Avalon School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
104 F M 55
Avalon, TX 76623
(972) 627-3251
Avalon, TX 76623
(972) 627-3251
Gr: PK-12 | 347 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 46%
Rank: #1717.
Life School Oak Cliff
Charter School
(Math: 21% | Reading: 34%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
4400 S R L Thornton Frwy
Red Oak, TX 75154
(214) 376-8200
Red Oak, TX 75154
(214) 376-8200
Gr: K-12 | 1,483 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #1818.
Milford School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
205 Third Ave
Milford, TX 76670
(972) 493-2911
Milford, TX 76670
(972) 493-2911
Gr: PK-12 | 258 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 65%
Rank: n/an/a
Ellis Co Jjaep
Alternative School
2272 Fm 878
Waxahachie, TX 75165
(972) 825-5420
Waxahachie, TX 75165
(972) 825-5420
Gr: 8-12 | 6 students
Rank: n/an/a
Mansfield Heritage Middle School
Charter School
10701 Heritage Pkwy
Midlothian, TX 76065
(972) 479-9078
Midlothian, TX 76065
(972) 479-9078
Gr: 6-8 | 138 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 95%
Ellis County Public Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Quick Facts
Life School Carrollton (Closed 2025)
Charter School
2660 E Trinity Mills Rd
Red Oak, TX 75154
(469) 701-1355
Red Oak, TX 75154
(469) 701-1355
Gr: K-6 | 283 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 90%
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top-ranked public middle schools in Ellis County, TX?
The top-ranked public middle schools in Ellis County, TX include Palmer Middle School, Walnut Grove Middle School and Earl & Marthalu Dieterich Middle School.
How many public middle schools are located in Ellis County?
20 public middle schools are located in Ellis County.
What is the racial composition of students in Ellis County?
Ellis County public middle schools minority enrollment is 71% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Texas public middle schools average of 75% (majority Hispanic).
Which public middle schools in Ellis County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public middle schools in Ellis County include: Palmer Middle School vs. Ennis J High School, Walnut Grove Middle School vs. Frank Seale Middle School, Finley J High School vs. Howard J High School
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