Best Public Schools in Highlands, TX

The four public schools in Highlands, Texas, all part of the Goose Creek Consolidated Independent School District, serve a community with high economic need, where 72% to 85% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, and include two elementary schools, one middle school, and one alternative high school.

The standout school is Point Alternative Center, which serves grades 6-12 with only 96 students and an exceptionally low student-teacher ratio of 7.9:1. Its per-student spending of $96,325 is nearly ten times that of other local schools, reflecting intensive resources for its specialized population, and it reports a 0% dropout rate. In contrast, Highlands J H presents a dramatic academic split: while 100% of its 8th graders taking Algebra I scored proficient—far exceeding district and state averages—its general math scores for 6th and 7th graders are well below state norms, suggesting a highly effective advanced math program but a struggling core curriculum. The two elementary schools, Highlands Elementary (grades 1-5, 868 students) and Hopper Pri (Pre-K to K, 239 students), show a spending difference ($10,560 vs. $11,918 per student) and lower student-teacher ratios at Hopper Pri, though test score data is only available for Highlands Elementary, which shows clear need for improvement in foundational skills.

Overall, academic proficiency across all schools consistently falls below Texas state averages by 10 to 20 percentage points in core subjects like reading and math, reflecting the district's low 27th percentile ranking. The high poverty rate is a likely factor in these outcomes, and the massive spending disparity between Point Alternative Center and the other schools highlights how resources are concentrated on the most at-risk students. For parents, the key takeaway is that while Highlands J H offers a standout Algebra program for advanced students, most schools in the area face significant challenges in raising general academic performance, with the alternative center effectively serving its unique mission.