For the fourth consecutive year, CREEED’s Algebra in Middle (AIM) High initiative recognized five Socorro Independent School District middle schools for achieving the highest scores on the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness (STAAR) Algebra I exam, reinforcing the district’s commitment to academic excellence and college readiness.
On Oct. 12, the Council on Regional Economic Expansion and Educational Development (CREEED) awarded $49,500 in gift cards to dedicated faculty and staff at five middle schools for their efforts to help students achieve outstanding results at the MEETS level on the 2025-26 STAAR algebra I exam.
The schools recognized are Capt. Walter E. Clarke Middle School: 87% passing rate; Montwood Middle School: 85% passing rate; SSG. Manuel R. Puentes Middle School: 85% passing rate; SPC. Rafael Hernando III Middle School: 82% passing rate; and William D. Slider Middle School: 82% passing rate.
A key factor in the district’s success is its commitment to having all eighth-grade students take Algebra I, helping expand access to advanced coursework and future college opportunities.
“It's remarkable to have almost all 12 of your middle schools achieve very high, and these are the highest among all 12 of them,” said Manny Soto, CREEED data director. “The achievement can compete with any middle school in the state of Texas. Even wealthy school districts don't achieve this high. And the key to all this is that you have 100% of your eighth graders taking algebra I.”
This year's top honor went to Capt. Walter E. Clarke Middle School, which earned first place after increasing its Algebra I performance. In 2025, 65 percent of eighth graders at Clarke Middle School who took the Algebra I STAAR exam scored at “Meets” or above. In 2026, that number rose to 87 percent, up more than 20 points.
“It is an amazing feeling to know that my students at Clarke were successful and that 100% of them passed. And not just passed, but they were at the MEETS or Master's level,” said Clarke Middle School Principal Daniela Palmer. “That just becomes a huge thing for our community, our culture and a sense of pride for us.”
Palmer said the achievement resulted from a team effort across the campus, which included math teachers, special education and bilingual educators, the Language Proficiency Assessment Committee clerk, and interns.
She said the math team analyzed data, collaborated constantly and provided interventions.
“It's just a team effort. Everyone involved at the school has contributed in one way or another to our students' success,” Palmer said.
Frank Betancourt, an algebra teacher at Clarke Middle School, said one of the biggest changes was helping students believe in themselves.
“One of the biggest things was that we were able to change the students' mindset,” said Betancourt, a teacher for 29 years. “Even the ones that had always struggled historically, if you would have asked them at the end, ‘How do you think you did on the STAAR test?’ I don't think you would have had a single one that thought that they didn't get “Masters” level on the test. Even the ones that had never passed before, their mindset completely switched and changed as far as their confidence toward math.”
Katrina Villalobos, a math teacher for six years at Clarke Middle School, said her students worked incredibly hard to meet high expectations.
“We're always looking for ways to improve, but we amped up our interventions last year, and we utilized all of our support. Our campus was right there with us, and the students understood what was expected of them, and they rose to the challenge,” Villalobos said.
Carlos Guerra, SISD assistant superintendent, said the district’s success in leading the region in algebra I achievement reflected the efforts of teachers, staff, families and the community working together to support student success. He said by allowing students to take algebra I in eighth grade, the district was preparing them for advanced coursework, dual-credit opportunities and future success in college and careers.
“Our goal as a whole for our district and the region is to ensure that we double the number of students enrolling in college-and-career-readiness opportunities. In this case, enrolling in four-year universities and providing the opportunity for students to take algebra when in eighth grade allows those students to not only take a five-year math, but most importantly to take advantage of dual credit college opportunities as soon as their sophomore year in high school,” Guerra said.
Alicia Olivarez, an algebra teacher at William D. Slider Middle School, said she was grateful to CREEED for the recognition and remains motivated to help her students reach their full potential.
“It feels like we're on the right path. We're doing something right,” Olivarez said.