Hamlin Collegiate Independent School District (Isd)

The Hamlin Collegiate Independent School District (Isd) is a small, rural district in Texas serving approximately 402 students across two schools: Hamlin Collegiate Elementary (grades PK-6) and Hamlin Collegiate High School (grades 7-12). The district ranks in the bottom third of Texas schools, with over 69% of students economically disadvantaged, a critical factor for understanding its academic context.

The most striking finding is a dramatic "math cliff" between the two schools. Hamlin Collegiate Elementary shows a consistent strength in mathematics, with 3rd, 5th, and 6th graders outperforming state averages in recent years. However, upon entering Hamlin Collegiate High School, math proficiency collapses—7th-grade math proficiency was just 6.67% in 2025-2026, compared to the state average of 29.41%. This suggests a severe breakdown in curriculum or instruction between 6th and 7th grade. Compounding this, the high school spends significantly more per student ($16,714 vs. $12,467) and has a better student-teacher ratio (8.4:1 vs. 13:1), yet these resources are not translating into math success. In contrast, the high school's Biology program is a bright spot, consistently exceeding state averages (72.73% proficient in 2025-2026).

Year-over-year performance is highly volatile, especially at the elementary level, where 6th-grade reading dropped from 48.48% to 21.43% in one year. This inconsistency, common in small schools, highlights how a single cohort can skew results. The high school's graduation rate is 88.9%, below the state average, with a 1.0% dropout rate. For parents, the key takeaway is that while the elementary school provides a solid math foundation, the transition to high school presents a critical challenge that the district has not yet addressed, despite higher spending and smaller classes. The science program offers a model of success that could be replicated in other subjects.