Summary:
The Cushing Independent School District in Cushing, Texas, serves 558 students across two schools: Cushing School (grades 6-12) and Cushing Elementary (Pre-K through 5th grade), with a high rate of economic disadvantage as over 67% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.
Both schools have shown remarkable improvement in recent years. Cushing School has earned a consistent 3-star state rating and jumped from the 30th percentile to the 68th percentile in state rankings, while maintaining a stellar 97.1% graduation rate and a 0% dropout rate. Cushing Elementary has made an even more dramatic leap, rising from the 30th percentile to the 60th percentile in just two years. Both schools offer favorable student-teacher ratios—13.3:1 at the elementary and 11.3:1 at the high school—allowing for more individualized attention. The district spends $11,308 per high school student and $8,447 per elementary student.
The most significant finding is a district-wide "math gap" that contrasts sharply with strengths in other subjects. While Cushing School excels in Biology (81.82% proficient vs. 70.51% state) and English I & II Reading, its 6th graders posted a 0% proficiency rate in Math, and 8th graders scored just 18.87% (vs. 47.24% state). Cushing Elementary's 5th graders shine in Reading (76.47% vs. 58.47% state) but struggle in Math (26.47% vs. 47.38% state). Science is a surprising strength across both schools, with elementary 5th graders scoring 42.11% in Science versus 29.57% statewide. The high graduation rate suggests the district excels at keeping students engaged, but the persistent math struggles indicate a need for focused academic intervention in this area.
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