Best Public Schools in Lipan, TX

The city of Lipan, Texas, is served by the Lipan Independent School District (Isd), which operates two public schools—Lipan High School (grades 6-12) and Lipan Elementary (Pre-K through 5th)—with a combined enrollment of 478 students. The district ranks in the top third of Texas school districts (67th percentile) and holds a 3-star rating, offering a small-town educational environment with notably low student-teacher ratios (9.7:1 at the high school and 13.2:1 at the elementary school).

Both schools demonstrate clear academic strengths, though in different areas. Lipan Elementary excels in early mathematics, with 79.49% of 3rd graders proficient in math in 2024-2025—nearly 35 percentage points above the state average—and strong 5th-grade reading scores. In contrast, Lipan High School shines in secondary-level reading and science, outperforming state averages in English I Reading (77.5% vs. 55.43%), Biology (75% vs. 70.51%), and U.S. History (76.47% vs. 70.17%). The high school also reports a perfect 100% graduation rate and 0% dropout rate. However, a notable "math cliff" exists: while elementary math is a standout, high school math scores (including Algebra I) fall below state averages, suggesting a transition challenge from foundational to advanced concepts.

A key paradox is that despite these strong scores, both schools have seen declining state rankings over the past three years—from the 74th to 61st percentile for the high school and 77th to 67th for the elementary school. This indicates that while Lipan ISD maintains solid performance, other Texas districts are improving at a faster pace. The district spends similarly per student ($12,446 at the high school, $12,178 at the elementary school), and about half of students are economically disadvantaged (55.9% at the elementary, 47.39% at the high school). The low student-teacher ratios are a significant asset, likely contributing to the high graduation rate and standout subject scores, though they may limit the breadth of advanced coursework available.