Summary
Andress High School in El Paso, TX, serves 1,341 students in grades 9-12 and is part of the El Paso Independent School District (Isd), a district that ranks in the 44th percentile statewide. The school serves a predominantly low-income community, with nearly 80% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, and has consistently ranked in the bottom 30% of Texas high schools, earning a 1-star rating in most recent years.
Academically, Andress faces significant challenges, particularly in Algebra I, where only 18.42% of students were proficient in the 2025-2026 school year—a stark contrast to the district average of 50.89% and the state average of 54.03%. Nearby schools like Irvin High School (42.86%) and Parkland High School (53.1%) perform significantly better in this subject. However, Biology shows a relative strength, with 59.37% of students proficient, closer to the district average of 64.65%. The school’s graduation rate has persistently lagged behind the district average, at 78.2% in 2023-2024 compared to 82.3%, and is much lower than nearby schools like Burges High School (86.5%) and Franklin High School (91.1%).
Despite these struggles, there are some interesting findings. Andress spends $10,327 per student, higher than Franklin’s $8,644, and has a favorable student-teacher ratio of 15.1 compared to Franklin’s 19.0, suggesting that funding and class size are not the primary issues. The school’s Asian students rank in the 53rd percentile, a dramatic improvement from a 4th percentile ranking in 2017-2018, indicating potential for targeted success. Additionally, Andress is located just 1 mile from Parkland High School in the Ysleta Independent School District (Isd), which serves a similar high-poverty population but ranks in the 58th percentile with an 86% graduation rate, highlighting the powerful impact of district-level policies and school culture on student outcomes.
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