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Dr L G Pinkston Senior High School

Public Grades 9-12
913th
SchoolDigger Rank ?
of 2,009 Texas High Schools
Better than 55% of Texas high schools
Summary

Dr L G Pinkston Senior High School is a large, urban high school in Dallas, TX, serving 1,264 students in grades 9-12 as part of the Dallas Independent School District (Isd), where over 95% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

The most remarkable thing about Pinkston is its dramatic academic turnaround. After a decade of low performance, the school jumped from the 14th percentile statewide in 2023-2024 to the 55th percentile in 2025-2026—a leap of over 800 places. This is far more significant than the modest gains seen at nearby schools like W H Adamson High School (54th to 65th percentile) or Sunset High School (35th to 47th percentile). Pinkston now outperforms both the district and state averages in Biology and U.S. History. The school is especially effective with students who often struggle elsewhere: it ranks in the 89th percentile for English Language Learners, the 84th percentile for special education students, and the 73rd percentile for low-income students. This makes Pinkston a potential model for other high-poverty schools.

However, there is a persistent challenge: Pinkston’s graduation rate is just 80.3%, the lowest among nearby comprehensive high schools, and its dropout rate of 6.4% is the highest—double the district average. This creates a paradox where the school excels at teaching students who stay enrolled but still struggles to keep many from leaving. For context, the selective Dr Wright L Lassiter Junior Early College High School has a 100% graduation rate, but it serves a small, magnet population. Pinkston’s story is one of remarkable academic progress for its most vulnerable students, even as it works to improve retention.

1,264
Students ?
15.4
Student/teacher ratio ?
$10,160
Per pupil spending ?
95.3%
Free/discounted lunch ?
 2815 Bickers St
       Dallas, TX  75212-2499

(972) 502-2700

District: Dallas Independent School District (Isd)


Feeder schools for Dr L G Pinkston Senior High School:

Elementary:    Arcadia Park Elementary
    C F Carr Elementary
    Eladio R Martinez Learning Center
    Gabe P Allen New Technical Academy
    More...
Middle:    Raul Quintanilla Senior Middle Steam Academy
Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
72.7%
African American:
23.7%
White:
1.5%
more
 See top rated Texas high schools

 Compare Dr L G Pinkston Senior High School to nearby high schools!
At a glance
Ranking trend: Improving — 29th percentile in 2016 → 55th in 2026
Strengths
Ranking is trending up — up 26 percentile points since 2016
Above the Texas median (55th percentile)
Worth a look
!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing
!English I Reading scores 16 pts below the Texas average
Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?
This school61%
District avg60%
Texas avg62%
913th of 2,009
Texas public high schools ?
Top 45%▲ up 26 pts since 2016
From bottom 29% (2016) to top 45% (2026)
See the entire ranking list of Texas High Schools →
SchoolDigger rating ?
19th of 38High Schools in the Dallas Independent School District (Isd)
441st of 951Dallas Independent School District (Isd) among Texas districts
Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)
Middle school ranking
Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankTexas percentileRating
202214.82049 of 22549.1%☆☆☆☆☆
20219.82175 of 22523.4%☆☆☆☆☆
20197.52122 of 21933.2%☆☆☆☆☆

African American

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankTexas percentileRating
202222.81084 of 125113.3%★☆☆☆☆
202114.81181 of 12132.6%☆☆☆☆☆
201913.81152 of 11933.4%☆☆☆☆☆

At Risk

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankTexas percentileRating
202232.71578 of 218227.7%★☆☆☆☆
202117.62034 of 21184.0%☆☆☆☆☆
201916.71977 of 20583.9%☆☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankTexas percentileRating
202246.1765 of 164353.4%★★★☆☆
202128.41282 of 159219.5%★☆☆☆☆
201933.81010 of 144530.1%★★☆☆☆

Female

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankTexas percentileRating
202213.92076 of 22216.5%☆☆☆☆☆
202111.52059 of 21514.3%☆☆☆☆☆
201910.21979 of 20473.3%☆☆☆☆☆

Gifted and Talented

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankTexas percentileRating
20223.51469 of 14881.3%☆☆☆☆☆
20212.11492 of 15010.6%☆☆☆☆☆
20190.51445 of 14460.1%☆☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankTexas percentileRating
202218.71867 of 207710.1%★☆☆☆☆
202115.11920 of 20436.0%☆☆☆☆☆
201911.51876 of 19353.0%☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankTexas percentileRating
202220.11976 of 222011.0%★☆☆☆☆
202112.22108 of 21722.9%☆☆☆☆☆
201910.82022 of 20732.5%☆☆☆☆☆

Male

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankTexas percentileRating
202216.41999 of 222810.3%★☆☆☆☆
202110.32104 of 21683.0%☆☆☆☆☆
20196.02037 of 20691.5%☆☆☆☆☆

Special Education

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankTexas percentileRating
202227.71455 of 175717.2%★☆☆☆☆
202126.61461 of 171214.7%★☆☆☆☆
201926.91368 of 162615.9%★☆☆☆☆
High school ranking
Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankTexas percentileRating
202651.7913 of 200954.6%★★★☆☆
202523.91542 of 197421.9%★☆☆☆☆
202414.11720 of 199013.6%★☆☆☆☆
202314.71683 of 196114.2%★☆☆☆☆
202213.91633 of 187613.0%★☆☆☆☆
202114.71614 of 186113.3%★☆☆☆☆
201929.51356 of 185727.0%★☆☆☆☆
201836.51131 of 179737.1%★★☆☆☆
201729.01278 of 177728.1%★☆☆☆☆
201636.31251 of 176229.0%★☆☆☆☆
201523.31439 of 174317.4%★☆☆☆☆
201423.41437 of 173417.1%★☆☆☆☆
201313.71493 of 16529.6%☆☆☆☆☆
201233.91218 of 160324.0%★☆☆☆☆
201132.51413 of 167215.5%★☆☆☆☆
201034.91298 of 156817.2%★☆☆☆☆
200923.71353 of 153912.1%★☆☆☆☆
200819.61352 of 151010.5%★☆☆☆☆
200713.31376 of 14978.1%☆☆☆☆☆
200612.71315 of 14308.0%☆☆☆☆☆
200516.41294 of 14299.4%☆☆☆☆☆
200417.01298 of 14279.0%☆☆☆☆☆

African American

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankTexas percentileRating
202665.3268 of 108675.3%★★★★☆
202537.0479 of 83442.6%★★☆☆☆
202414.4950 of 106510.8%★☆☆☆☆
202319.9873 of 106918.3%★☆☆☆☆
202218.3881 of 103114.5%★☆☆☆☆
202114.7902 of 102011.6%★☆☆☆☆
201931.6675 of 102434.1%★★☆☆☆
201835.6621 of 101338.7%★★☆☆☆

Asian

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankTexas percentileRating
20251.0420 of 4281.9%☆☆☆☆☆

At Risk

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankTexas percentileRating
202224.61468 of 183720.1%★☆☆☆☆
202123.91481 of 182919.0%★☆☆☆☆
201939.21067 of 181041.0%★★☆☆☆
201845.9802 of 178455.0%★★★☆☆

English Language Learner

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankTexas percentileRating
202676.2137 of 119588.5%★★★★☆
202540.3564 of 115351.1%★★★☆☆
202424.81091 of 143724.1%★☆☆☆☆
202336.5757 of 137144.8%★★☆☆☆
202237.2687 of 127846.2%★★☆☆☆
202146.6493 of 119558.7%★★★☆☆
201965.3227 of 113680.0%★★★★☆
201877.6109 of 111390.2%★★★★★

Female

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankTexas percentileRating
202649.6929 of 193652.0%★★★☆☆
202521.91218 of 150419.0%★☆☆☆☆
202410.91701 of 18809.5%☆☆☆☆☆
202313.01645 of 189113.0%★☆☆☆☆
202212.71621 of 184112.0%★☆☆☆☆
202117.21533 of 181515.5%★☆☆☆☆
201926.81413 of 179821.4%★☆☆☆☆
201837.91147 of 178135.6%★★☆☆☆

Gifted and Talented

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankTexas percentileRating
202626.91059 of 120612.2%★☆☆☆☆
20253.5943 of 9642.2%☆☆☆☆☆
20233.51142 of 11823.4%☆☆☆☆☆
20220.51160 of 11721.0%☆☆☆☆☆
20210.31167 of 11770.8%☆☆☆☆☆
201912.91088 of 11455.0%☆☆☆☆☆
201828.5993 of 113712.7%★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankTexas percentileRating
202654.3722 of 186061.2%★★★☆☆
202526.31117 of 145323.1%★☆☆☆☆
202416.51571 of 180513.0%★☆☆☆☆
202318.41531 of 182015.9%★☆☆☆☆
202218.11490 of 176215.4%★☆☆☆☆
202122.91392 of 174320.1%★☆☆☆☆
201938.11080 of 171437.0%★★☆☆☆
201845.6843 of 169150.1%★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankTexas percentileRating
202660.5530 of 193772.6%★★★★☆
202529.81098 of 151327.4%★☆☆☆☆
202415.21677 of 188411.0%★☆☆☆☆
202316.91632 of 189714.0%★☆☆☆☆
202217.71590 of 184713.9%★☆☆☆☆
202120.61539 of 184816.7%★☆☆☆☆
201937.31187 of 181834.7%★★☆☆☆
201847.1842 of 179453.1%★★★☆☆

Male

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankTexas percentileRating
202649.6890 of 195454.5%★★★☆☆
202522.51190 of 151521.5%★☆☆☆☆
202410.81717 of 18919.2%☆☆☆☆☆
202314.01662 of 191313.1%★☆☆☆☆
202213.01638 of 185311.6%★☆☆☆☆
202110.21683 of 18408.5%☆☆☆☆☆
201929.01324 of 182427.4%★☆☆☆☆
201831.91257 of 180330.3%★★☆☆☆

Multi-racial

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankTexas percentileRating
20220.8659 of 6640.8%☆☆☆☆☆
202119.2499 of 58815.1%★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankTexas percentileRating
202669.8249 of 158184.3%★★★★☆
202554.4426 of 129967.2%★★★☆☆
202434.11054 of 154831.9%★★☆☆☆
202331.61035 of 147830.0%★★☆☆☆
202232.0992 of 141830.0%★★☆☆☆
202135.6880 of 138236.3%★★☆☆☆
201937.0831 of 135738.8%★★☆☆☆
201851.6464 of 134765.6%★★★☆☆

White

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankTexas percentileRating
202538.9794 of 129438.6%★★☆☆☆
202421.61288 of 155617.2%★☆☆☆☆
202216.81333 of 152512.6%★☆☆☆☆
201856.5588 of 153961.8%★★★☆☆
How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)
Middle school
English Language Learner (2022)53rd percentile+44 vs school
At Risk (2022)28th percentile+19 vs school
Special Education (2022)17th percentile+8 vs school
African American (2022)13th percentile+4 vs school
Low Socio Economic Status (2022)11th percentile~ school
Male (2022)10th percentile~ school
Hispanic (2022)10th percentile~ school
Female (2022)7th percentile-3 vs school
Gifted and Talented (2022)1st percentile-8 vs school
High school
English Language Learner (2026)89th percentile+34 vs school
Special Education (2026)84th percentile+30 vs school
African American (2026)75th percentile+21 vs school
Low Socio Economic Status (2026)73rd percentile+18 vs school
Hispanic (2026)61st percentile+7 vs school
Male (2026)54th percentile~ school
Female (2026)52nd percentile-3 vs school
White (2025)39th percentile+17 vs school
At Risk (2022)20th percentile+7 vs school
Gifted and Talented (2026)12th percentile-42 vs school
Asian (2025)2nd percentile-20 vs school
Multi-racial (2022)1st percentile-12 vs school
By subject vs Texas (2025-2026) ?
U.S. History73%+3 vs state
Biology73%+3 vs state
English II Reading64%+4 vs state
Algebra I58%+4 vs state
English I Reading39%-16 vs state

2.5
2 ratings · 2 written reviews
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What people are saying
by a citizen
Monday, April 11, 2016

Open Quote Hmm.. "This school is an embarrassment to American education", I guess this was the only school that opened you with opened arms and expected a leader. No other school hired you but this low middle class school did.. So how does that rank you umong other teachers? I guess you need to bump up YOUR grades and WORK hard to get in a better school. Its teachers like you that make kids give up on education. Close Quote


by a teacher
Monday, August 17, 2015

Open Quote Poor leadership, needs major improvement on all grounds. This school is an embarrassment to American education. Close Quote





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Frequently Asked Questions about Dr L G Pinkston Senior High School

Students at Dr L G Pinkston Senior High School are 73% Hispanic, 24% African American, 2% White.

Dr L G Pinkston Senior High School ranks 913th of 2009 Texas high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,264 students attended Dr L G Pinkston Senior High School.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Texas Education Agency.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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