Summary:
The three public schools in the Winona Independent School District (Isd) serve approximately 1,166 students across elementary, middle, and high school grades in a high-poverty area where over 84% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.
Winona Middle is the district's standout performer, earning a 3-star rating and ranking in the 51st percentile statewide—the highest in the district. Its advanced math program is exceptional, with 100% of middle school students passing Algebra I in 2024-2025 and 93.75% in 2025-2026, far exceeding state averages. In contrast, Winona Elementary is the most challenged school, receiving 0 stars for three consecutive years and ranking in the bottom 6% of Texas elementary schools. Its 4th-grade math proficiency is critically low at just 11.7% compared to the state average of 49.28%. Winona High School shows a mixed profile: it has a strong 97.2% graduation rate and a standout Biology proficiency of 69.57% (nearly matching the state average), but its overall ranking sits at the 40th percentile. A spending paradox exists, as Winona High spends the most per student ($16,904) with the best student-teacher ratio (9:1), yet Winona Middle achieves better outcomes with less funding ($14,025 per student and an 11.9:1 ratio).
The district shows a clear pattern of relative strength in Reading, where Winona Middle meets or exceeds state averages, but a systemic crisis in Mathematics, where every grade and school falls significantly below state benchmarks. Winona Elementary's struggles are the district's critical weak link, as students entering middle and high school are severely behind, particularly in math. While Winona Middle successfully accelerates a select group of students into advanced math, the majority of its 6th graders still score only 14.94% proficient in math. The district's long-term success depends on dramatically improving outcomes at Winona Elementary and addressing the district-wide math instruction gap.
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