Summary:
The Somerset Academies Of Texas is a small charter district of four schools serving about 2,604 students in the San Antonio area, and it presents a clear story of two very different educational experiences: its two small elementary schools dramatically outperform its two large alternative schools.
For parents, the standout choice is clearly Somerset Academy Lone Star, the district's top academic performer. Despite having the highest percentage of economically disadvantaged students, this tiny school (98 students) achieved a 4-star rating and spends a remarkable $25,758 per student—nearly three times more than the lowest-spending school. Its test scores, like 75% proficiency in 5th Grade Reading, far exceed district averages. Somerset Academy Oaks is the most consistent performer, maintaining a 3-star rating for three straight years with reliable scores across all subjects. In contrast, the two alternative schools—Somerset Academy Brooks (1,227 students) and Somerset Academy Collegiate (1,080 students)—struggle significantly, especially in math. For example, in 8th Grade Math, Brooks had only 2.44% proficiency compared to the state average of 47.24%. However, Collegiate shows some positive momentum, with notable gains in high school English and U.S. History exams.
The key takeaway is that resource allocation and school size matter immensely here. The elementary schools benefit from smaller class sizes (13-15 students per teacher) and much higher per-student spending, while the alternative schools have larger classes (19-22 students) and lower spending. The district's overall 1-star rating masks this divide, but parents should know that while the elementary schools are competitive with state averages, the alternative schools face profound challenges, particularly in mathematics. A bright spot is that both alternative schools perform near the state average in high school English, suggesting a potential foundation for future improvement.
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