Summary:
The Lasara Independent School District (Isd) is a small, rural district in Texas with just two schools: Lasara Elementary (serving grades PK-8) and Lasara High School (serving grades 9-12), totaling about 343 students in a high-poverty area where roughly 85% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.
Lasara High School is the district's standout improver, showing a dramatic upward trend in state ranking from the 15th percentile to the 43rd percentile in just one year. It boasts a stellar 96.3% graduation rate and a 0% dropout rate, with recent proficiency in English I and II now matching state averages. In contrast, Lasara Elementary struggles overall, ranking in the 9th percentile statewide, but has a critical bright spot: its 8th graders outperform the state in both Math (58.33% vs. 47.24%) and Social Studies (53.33% vs. 31.69%). This "8th grade bump" provides a strong foundation for the high school. However, a 0% proficiency rate in 5th grade Science is a major red flag requiring immediate attention.
The district invests heavily, spending $19,511 per high school student and $14,486 per elementary student, with very low student-teacher ratios of 7.5:1 at the high school and 12.9:1 at the elementary level. Despite these resources, most grade levels still lag behind state averages in core subjects, suggesting that deep-seated socioeconomic challenges require more than just small classes. The high school's dramatic year-over-year improvement—like Algebra I jumping from 0% to 42.86% proficiency—shows that positive change is possible, but the district's success hinges entirely on these two schools working as a seamless feeder system.
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