Summary:
The Itasca Independent School District (Isd) is home to a single high school, Itasca High School, which serves grades 9 through 12 with a small enrollment of 210 students. The district is ranked in the 9th percentile statewide, reflecting significant academic challenges, though the school offers a notably low student-teacher ratio of 9.1 to 1 and spends over $15,000 per student annually.
Academically, Itasca High School shows a mixed picture. Its strongest subject is U.S. History, where 62.5% of students are proficient, coming closest to the state average of 70.17%. However, Algebra I is a critical weakness, with only 16.98% of students proficient in the most recent year, far below the state average of 54.03%. Other subjects like Biology (53.85% proficient) and English II Reading (55.77% proficient) also lag behind state averages. The school's graduation rate is a respectable 88.7%, with a very low dropout rate of 0.9%, but this contrasts with low test scores, suggesting the school successfully keeps students on track for a diploma even as many struggle to reach grade-level mastery.
A key takeaway is the "small school paradox": despite strong resources like a low student-teacher ratio and high per-student spending, academic outcomes remain well below state averages, likely due to deeper socioeconomic factors, as 66% of students are economically disadvantaged. The school's state ranking has also been volatile, dropping from the 32nd percentile to the 23rd before a slight recovery, indicating inconsistent improvement. For parents, Itasca High School offers a close-knit environment with potential for individualized attention, but families should be aware of the significant gaps in core academic proficiency, particularly in math.
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