Waco Charter School

Waco Charter School is a public charter elementary school serving grades PK-5 with a student population of 175 in Waco, Texas. Despite spending significantly more per student than the state average, the school consistently ranks among the lowest-performing elementary schools in Texas, with its diverse student population, particularly African American, Hispanic, English Language Learners, Special Education, and Economically Disadvantaged students, struggling to achieve academic success.

Waco Charter School's academic performance on STAAR tests is significantly below the state and Waco Independent School District (ISD) averages across all grade levels and subject areas. The school's rankings for student subgroups are in the bottom 10-20% of Texas elementary schools, suggesting the school is facing challenges in effectively utilizing its resources to support student learning. Despite a relatively low student-teacher ratio, the school has not shown significant improvement in its academic performance over the past decade.

When compared to nearby Brook Avenue Elementary, Crestview Elementary, and other Waco ISD schools, Waco Charter School consistently underperforms on STAAR assessments. For example, in 2022-2023, Waco Charter School's 3rd-grade reading proficiency was 10%, compared to 22-52% at nearby Waco ISD schools. The school's high poverty rates, with 85.71% to 97.76% of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, may contribute to the unique challenges it faces in supporting student learning.