Nyos Charter School

The Nyos Charter School district in Austin, TX, is a small, high-performing network of two schools serving grades PK-12, ranked in the top 15% of Texas districts. Nyos Lamar Secondary (grades 6-12) is the standout school, consistently earning a 4-star rating and showing steady improvement from the 71st to the 82nd percentile over three years. In contrast, Nyos Lamar Elementary (grades PK-5) has been more volatile, fluctuating between 3 and 4 stars, with its ranking dropping from the 79th to the 68th percentile.

Key metrics reveal notable differences between the two schools. The secondary school boasts a strong 94.4% graduation rate and a very low 0.3% dropout rate, while spending significantly more per student ($11,131) compared to the elementary school ($8,969). Both schools serve a similar demographic, with about 30% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, and the secondary school has a slightly better student-teacher ratio of 11.5:1 versus 13.1:1 at the elementary school. The secondary school consistently outperforms state averages in nearly every subject, particularly in reading, where every grade level tested scored above the state average in the 2025-2026 school year.

Interesting findings include a sharp decline in 7th-grade math proficiency at the secondary school, where only 20.51% of students were proficient, well below the state average of 29.41%. This contrasts with the district's clear strength in reading, suggesting a potential curriculum gap in middle school math. Additionally, science scores are mixed, with 5th-grade science at the elementary school falling below the state average. The spending disparity between the two schools raises questions about whether increased investment in the elementary school could help stabilize its performance and close the gap with the secondary school's consistent excellence.