Abilene Independent School District (Isd)

The Abilene Independent School District (Isd) serves 24 schools in Texas, including 13 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 7 high schools, and is ranked in the 18th percentile statewide, indicating overall low performance with significant variation between schools.

The standout school is Academy For Technology Engineering Math & Science (ATEMS), a magnet high school ranked in the 96th percentile with a 97.7% graduation rate and 0.0% dropout rate, dramatically outperforming the district average of 90.9% graduation and 1.0% dropout. In contrast, Ortiz Elementary and Bowie Elementary are ranked in the 3rd and 7th percentiles respectively, with critically low test scores. Middle school math is a district-wide crisis, with 7th-grade proficiency rates at Mann Middle (9.41%), Craig Middle (4%), Madison Middle (8.39%), and Clack Middle (9.09%) all far below the state average of 29.41%. Austin Elementary showed a notable decline, dropping from the 66th to the 46th percentile between school years.

Key metrics show the district has an average free/reduced lunch rate of about 70%, with the lowest-performing schools having rates above 85%, while ATEMS has the lowest rate at 43.23%. Per-student spending varies widely, from $8,635 at ATEMS to $28,003 at the Juvenile Detention Center, but high spending does not guarantee high test scores. Alternative schools like Woodson Center For Excellence serve a critical role, achieving a 96.5% graduation rate despite low test scores, showing success measured beyond standardized tests. The district's average student-teacher ratio is 14.5:1, ranging from 5.5:1 at the Juvenile Detention Center to 17.2:1 at Alcorta Elementary.