Summary:
The Hempstead Independent School District (Isd) serves approximately 1,585 students across three schools—Hempstead Elementary, Hempstead Middle, and Hempstead High School—and is ranked 786th out of 951 districts in Texas, placing it in the 17th percentile with a 1-star rating. The district faces significant challenges, with a high percentage of students eligible for free or reduced lunch, ranging from 72.51% at the high school to 87.24% at the elementary school, which is a key factor in the academic performance data.
Hempstead Middle is the standout school, showing a dramatic upward trajectory from the 7th percentile in 2023-2024 to a projected 47th percentile in 2025-2026. Its Algebra I End-of-Course exam proficiency rate is an impressive 94-95%, nearly double the district average and far exceeding the state average, though general math scores for 6th, 7th, and 8th graders remain below state averages. In contrast, Hempstead Elementary is the lowest-ranked school, consistently scoring 15-25 percentage points below state averages in reading and math, with a 1-star rating and ranking in the 11th percentile. Hempstead High School maintains a strong graduation rate of 94.9% despite low STAAR EOC proficiency rates (e.g., 28% in English II), and it spends significantly more per student ($15,430) compared to the elementary ($10,515) and middle school ($11,532).
Key takeaways include the "Algebra I Island" at the middle school, where a select group excels while the majority struggles, and the graduation-versus-proficiency paradox at the high school, which prioritizes credit recovery over academic mastery. The district is one of extremes, with each school facing unique challenges: the elementary school battles the highest poverty rate, the middle school shows rapid improvement, and the high school balances strong graduation rates with low test scores. The middle school's success in advanced math and its overall upward trend offer a potential blueprint for improvement across the district.
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