Buna Independent School District (Isd)

The Buna Independent School District (Isd) serves approximately 1,474 students across three schools in a small, rural East Texas community, offering education from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.

Among the three schools, Buna J H stands out for its exceptional performance in advanced math, with a remarkable 94.74% proficiency rate in Algebra I for the 2025-2026 school year, far exceeding state averages. This middle school also boasts a perfect 0.0% dropout rate and has shown a strong upward trend in its state ranking, now in the 63rd percentile. In contrast, Buna High School is notable for its high 97.8% graduation rate and a dramatic academic turnaround, with Algebra I proficiency jumping from 21.82% to 45.35% and Biology from 40.3% to 70.48% in just one year. Buna Elementary, however, consistently scores below state averages in both Reading and Math across grades 3-5, such as only 23.01% proficiency in 5th-grade Math compared to the state's 47.38%.

Key metrics reveal a district of contrasts. Per-student spending varies significantly, from $9,673 at Buna Elementary to $13,331 at Buna High School, with the high school's higher spending correlating with its recent improvements. Student-teacher ratios are favorable, especially at the high school (11:1) and middle school (11.9:1). A critical finding is the "middle school dip" in math, where 7th-grade proficiency at Buna J H plummets to just 11.76% versus the state's 29.41%, even as top students excel in Algebra I. Overall, the district ranks in the 49th percentile statewide, indicating average performance, but the secondary schools show promising strengths and rapid improvement that parents should investigate further.