Summary:
The city of New London, Texas, is served by the West Rusk County Consolidated Independent School District, which includes four schools—West Rusk High School, West Rusk Middle, West Rusk Elementary, and West Rusk Intermediate—serving approximately 1,029 students across grades PK-12 in a high-poverty area where about 75% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.
The standout school is West Rusk High School, which earns a 4-star rating and leads the district with a 98.7% graduation rate and strong test scores in Biology, English I, and U.S. History that exceed state averages. In contrast, West Rusk Intermediate is the area of greatest concern, with a 1-star rating and math proficiency rates as low as 15.58% for 5th graders—far below the state average of 47.38%. West Rusk Middle is a hidden gem for advanced math, achieving 100% proficiency for 8th graders taking Algebra I, though its general math scores lag behind the state. West Rusk Elementary serves the youngest students (PK-2) and provides a foundation for the district.
Key takeaways include a critical drop-off in math performance at the intermediate level, which suggests a need for stronger foundational instruction in grades 3-5. However, the middle school shows a strong rebound in reading, outperforming state averages in 7th and 8th grade. The high school’s success despite high poverty indicates effective programs, while the intermediate school’s struggles persist despite higher per-student spending than the middle school, pointing to a need for different instructional strategies rather than just more funding.
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