Summary:
The Cross Plains Independent School District (Isd) is a small, rural district in Texas serving approximately 365 students across two schools: Cross Plains Elementary (grades PK-6) and Cross Plains High School (grades 7-12). The district holds a 3-star rating, but the two schools tell very different stories.
Cross Plains Elementary is the clear standout, earning a 4-star rating and showing a strong upward trend in its state ranking, moving from the 55th to the 80th percentile over three years. Despite a high rate of economically disadvantaged students (73.91%), the elementary school performs at or above state averages in several key areas, including 5th and 6th-grade Reading and 3rd and 6th-grade Math. A particularly dramatic finding is the "6th Grade Spike" in Math, where 75% of students were proficient—nearly double the state average. In contrast, Cross Plains High School has a 2-star rating and a declining state ranking. While it boasts a high graduation rate (96%) and a low dropout rate (0.6%), its academic performance is inconsistent and often trails the state, especially in Algebra I (29.03% proficient) and 8th-grade Social Studies (15.38% proficient).
A key takeaway is the disconnect between spending and outcomes. The high school spends $2,365 more per student than the elementary school and has a very low student-to-teacher ratio of 7.4:1, yet its core academic results, particularly in math, are weak. The elementary school, with a higher student-to-teacher ratio and lower per-pupil spending, is effectively overcoming socioeconomic barriers and delivering strong results. This suggests that while the high school excels at keeping students enrolled and graduating, it needs significant intervention to improve foundational academic skills, especially in math and social studies.
Thank you for your feedback!