Summary:
The Dumas Independent School District (Isd) in Texas is home to two high schools: the large, high-performing Dumas High School (serving grades 9-12) and the much smaller, alternative North Plains Opportunity Center (serving grades 10-12).
Dumas High School is the district's standout academic leader, consistently earning a 4-star rating and ranking in the top 30% of Texas high schools. It boasts exceptional outcomes, including a near-perfect 99% graduation rate and a 0% dropout rate. The school outperforms state averages in every core subject, with particularly strong results in English II Reading (74.83% proficient vs. 59.88% statewide) and U.S. History (83.81% vs. 70.17%). In contrast, North Plains Opportunity Center serves a high-needs population (80% economically disadvantaged) and faces significant academic challenges, with proficiency rates as low as 0% in English I Reading. However, it achieves a surprisingly high 98.2% graduation rate and a remarkable 88.89% proficiency in Biology, suggesting effective intervention in specific areas despite overall low test scores.
Key metrics highlight the stark differences between the two schools. Dumas High School enrolls 1,192 students with a student-teacher ratio of 13.6 and spends $10,170 per student. North Plains Opportunity Center has only 35 students, a much lower ratio of 6.2, and spends significantly more at $15,371 per student. The district's overall strong performance is driven almost entirely by Dumas High School, which shows a clear upward trend in test scores and rankings. The "Biology anomaly" at North Plains—where proficiency far exceeds state averages—warrants further investigation, possibly due to a small sample size or an effective teacher. Ultimately, families in this district have two very different options: a large, high-achieving comprehensive school and a small, resource-intensive alternative school focused on keeping at-risk students on track to graduate.
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