Nova Academy Southeast

Nova Academy Southeast is a single-school district in Texas serving 235 students from Pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade at Nova Academy Prichard, an elementary school with a 14:1 student-teacher ratio and a 94.89% rate of economic disadvantage.

Nova Academy Prichard presents a striking contrast between its lower and upper grades. In grades 3-5, students significantly underperform state averages, with 4th grade Reading and Math proficiency rates over 35 percentage points below Texas norms. However, the middle school grades (6-8) tell a dramatically different story. In 8th grade Reading, 80% of students are proficient—21 points above the state—and in 7th grade Math, 54.84% are proficient, outpacing the state by 25 points. The most impressive result is in 8th grade Social Studies, where 72% of students are proficient, more than double the state average of 31.69%. This "catch-up" phenomenon suggests that while early-grade instruction faces challenges, the middle school program is exceptionally effective at accelerating learning.

The school's state ranking has declined from the 34th percentile (2 stars) in 2023-2024 to the 21st percentile (1 star) in 2025-2026, a drop heavily influenced by lower-grade performance. Year-over-year volatility is notable—5th grade Reading proficiency fell from 62.5% to 28.57% in one year—likely due to small class sizes. Despite these challenges, the school maintains a 0% dropout rate and spends $9,652 per student. For parents, the key takeaway is that Nova Academy Prichard is a school of extremes: early grades need significant support, but the middle school consistently delivers outstanding results, making the overall ranking misleading and highlighting a hidden strength in upper-grade education.