Pasadena Independent School District (Isd)

The Pasadena Independent School District (Isd) is a large, urban district in Texas serving over 67 schools, including elementary, middle, and high schools, with a diverse student population and a district-wide ranking in the 37th percentile.

Standout schools in the district show a wide range of performance. The Dr Kirk Lewis Career And Technical High School is a remarkable success story, achieving a 98.8% graduation rate and top test scores despite serving a high-poverty population. In contrast, The Summit (High School) and The Summit (Intermediate) face significant challenges, spending over $67,000 per student yet earning 0-star ratings with very low academic outcomes. Among elementary schools, Laura Welch Bush Elementary and South Belt Elementary consistently earn top ratings, while Richey Elementary struggles with the highest poverty rate in the district. For middle schools, Melillo Middle stands out with proficiency rates often 15-20 points above the district average.

Key metrics reveal that the district has an average free/reduced lunch rate of about 84%, a graduation rate of 89.6%, and a per-student spending range from $9,737 to over $79,000. A critical finding is that middle school math is a district-wide weakness, with 7th-grade math proficiency at just 13.22% compared to 42.8% in reading. Additionally, the data shows that high spending does not guarantee high performance, as seen with The Summit schools, while some schools like Sparks Elementary outperform peers with similar poverty levels, suggesting that factors like school leadership and teaching quality play a crucial role in student success.