Summary:
The Nacogdoches Independent School District (Isd) serves two high schools—Nacogdoches High School and Margie Chumbley Academy For Success—in a district that ranks in the 9th percentile statewide, indicating significant academic challenges. The two schools serve vastly different populations: Nacogdoches High School is a large comprehensive campus with 1,755 students, while Margie Chumbley Academy is a small alternative school with just 67 students.
Nacogdoches High School stands out for its near-perfect graduation rate of 99.2%, far exceeding the district average of 95.5%, and its dropout rate is a mere 0.2%. However, its test scores lag behind state averages, with Algebra I being a particular weakness (only 15.98% proficient versus 70.17% statewide). In contrast, Margie Chumbley Academy faces extreme struggles: a 70.4% graduation rate, a 12.4% dropout rate, and critically low test scores, including 0% proficiency in English II Reading. Despite spending 45% more per student ($14,432 vs. $9,981) and maintaining a very low student-teacher ratio of 4.5:1, the alternative school’s outcomes highlight the profound challenges of its high-need population, where over 76% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.
Key takeaways for parents include the stark contrast in graduation success between the two schools, with Nacogdoches High School effectively retaining its general population while Margie Chumbley Academy serves students at high risk of dropping out. Nacogdoches High School’s strongest subject relative to the state is U.S. History (67.44% vs. 70.17% state), but overall, the district’s 9th percentile ranking reflects systemic issues. The alternative school functions more as a credit recovery and behavioral intervention center, while the main high school struggles with low test scores across core subjects like English and Biology, consistently 10-20 percentage points below state averages.
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