Summary:
The East Central Independent School District (Isd) serves 14 schools in Texas, including eight elementary schools (PK-5), two middle schools (6-8), and four high schools (7-12 or 8-12), and is ranked in the bottom quartile of Texas districts, though standout schools show that strong leadership and instruction can overcome socioeconomic challenges.
Among elementary schools, Highland Forest Elementary is the district's top performer, jumping from a 1-star to a 4-star rating in two years and exceeding state averages in reading and math despite an 80% poverty rate. In contrast, Pecan Valley Elementary has a similar poverty rate but ranks near the bottom, highlighting that school culture and teaching quality matter most. Salado Elementary stands out for its bilingual program, with Spanish STAAR reading scores far above state averages. At the middle school level, East Central Heritage Middle is a biology powerhouse, with 93% of students proficient on the high-school-level Biology EOC exam, while both Heritage and Legacy Middle show a sharp drop in math performance compared to top elementary schools, indicating a critical transition point.
High schools vary widely: East Central High School has an 83.6% graduation rate, while alternative campuses like East Central Cast Lead High School show promise with some test scores exceeding district averages. However, Bexar County Learning Center spends $47,429 per student—five times more than standard schools—yet has the lowest academic outcomes, with 0% proficient in Algebra I. The district's overall graduation rate is below the state average, and per-student spending ranges from $7,796 at Heritage Middle to $47,429 at Bexar County Learning Center, reflecting the high cost of serving at-risk populations.
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