Ferris Independent School District (Isd)

The Ferris Independent School District (Isd) is a unified Texas district serving approximately 3,010 students across five schools—one high school, one middle school, and three elementary schools—with a high level of economic disadvantage and a current 2-star rating.

Among the schools, Ferris J H stands out as a "bright spot" in advanced math, with 80% of its 8th graders proficient in Algebra I, dramatically exceeding district and state averages, even as its grade-level math proficiency lags significantly. Lee Longino Elementary is the most improved school, jumping from a 1-star to a 2-star rating, with 4th-grade math proficiency surging to 54.24%, now above the state average. Hazel Ingram Elementary, serving Pre-K and Kindergarten, has no test scores but the highest economic disadvantage rate (86.87%), making it a critical early intervention point. Ferris High School boasts a stellar 97% graduation rate and a 0.1% dropout rate, yet its Algebra I proficiency is only 38.98%, highlighting a paradox of high retention but low academic mastery. Lucy Mae McDonald Elementary rounds out the district with typical performance below state averages.

Key metrics reveal a district of extremes: the middle school has the lowest spending per student ($10,655) despite the most severe math challenges, while Lee Longino Elementary, with the highest spending ($14,244), shows the most improvement. The "Algebra I paradox" between Ferris J H and Ferris High School suggests a need for curriculum alignment, and the severe "middle school math slump" (proficiency rates 20 points below state averages) is the district's primary weakness. Overall, Ferris ISD excels at keeping students in school but struggles with academic proficiency, especially in math.