Best Public Schools in Lake Worth, TX

The Lake Worth Independent School District (Isd) in Lake Worth, Texas, serves approximately 1,658 students across three public schools—two elementary schools and one high school—in a community where over 86% of students face economic disadvantage, placing the district in the 2nd percentile statewide.

Among the schools, Lake Worth High School stands out for its positive trajectory, showing year-over-year improvement in state percentile rank (from 14th to 18th) and strong gains in Algebra I (24.37% to 36.7% proficient) and Biology (29.23% to 48.44% proficient). Its 85.4% graduation rate is a key strength, though the 3.5% dropout rate warrants attention. In contrast, Effie Morris Early Learning Academy excels in 4th Grade Mathematics, with 42.67% proficiency—far exceeding the district average of 26.72% and nearly matching the state average—suggesting effective math instruction at that level. Meanwhile, N A Howry Steam Academy faces the most severe challenges, ranking in the 6th percentile statewide and posting a critically low 5th Grade Science proficiency rate of just 6.25%, despite its STEAM designation. Per-student spending is above the state average (ranging from $12,008 to $13,900), and student-teacher ratios are favorable (14.2:1 to 15.5:1), yet academic outcomes remain low across the board.

Key takeaways include the stark poverty-performance gap, where high investment in resources has not yet translated into proportional academic gains, and the notable difference between the two elementary schools despite similar demographics—Effie Morris generally outperforms N A Howry, particularly in math. The high school’s upward trend offers hope, while the elementary data gaps (e.g., Effie Morris reporting scores for grades 3-5 despite being a PK-K academy) complicate direct comparisons. For parents, Lake Worth High School shows the most promise for improvement, Effie Morris Early Learning Academy is a strong choice for early math, and N A Howry Steam Academy requires close attention to science and overall academic support.