Celeste Independent School District (Isd)

The Celeste Independent School District (Isd) is a small, rural district in Texas serving approximately 489 students across three schools: Celeste Elementary (PK-5), Celeste J H (6-8), and Celeste High School (9-12). The district ranks in the 77th percentile statewide, earning a 4-star rating for above-average performance.

Celeste High School is the district's academic leader, boasting a 100% graduation rate and zero dropouts. It outperforms state averages in Biology, English I and II Reading, and U.S. History, though it struggles with Algebra I. The high school also has the lowest student-to-teacher ratio (7.5:1) and highest per-student spending ($15,539), suggesting a strategic investment in small classes. In contrast, Celeste J H is the most improved school, jumping from the 61st to the 82nd percentile over three years. It is a social studies powerhouse, with 8th graders scoring 13.5 percentage points above the state average—the largest positive gap in the district. Celeste Elementary provides a strong reading foundation, with 4th and 5th graders exceeding state averages, but faces a critical math challenge: 5th-grade math proficiency is nearly 22 points below the state average, the district's worst performance.

A key takeaway is the "math wall" at the elementary level, where math proficiency drops sharply from 15 points above the state in 3rd grade to 22 points below by 5th grade, indicating a need for curriculum or instructional changes. Interestingly, the high school spends the most per student and performs best, while the elementary school spends the least and has the biggest weakness, suggesting resource allocation may need review. Another notable trend is the district's strength in social studies, with both the middle and high schools significantly outperforming state averages. However, while the middle school is rising in rankings, the high school has declined from the 84th to the 68th percentile over three years, a divergence worth investigating to ensure all students are well-prepared for future success.