Summary:
The Pasadena Independent School District (Isd) in Texas serves seven high schools, including comprehensive campuses and alternative schools, for a total enrollment of over 14,000 students across grades 9-12 in a predominantly low-income area.
For parents, the standout academic leader is Pasadena Memorial High School, which boasts the highest state ranking (60th percentile), a 3-star rating, and the best graduation rate (92.8%) among large schools, while also spending the least per student ($9,737). A close contender is Dobie High School, also with a 3-star rating, which excels in English I and II Reading and has a 92.5% graduation rate. In contrast, the three large schools—Sam Rayburn High School, Pasadena High School, and South Houston High School—form a struggling middle tier with high poverty rates (85-90%), low rankings (18th-33rd percentile), and graduation rates below the district average. The two smallest schools serve specialized populations: The Summit (High School) has the lowest test scores and a 0% dropout rate despite spending $67,837 per student, while Tegeler Community School excels in Algebra I (70.67% proficiency) but has the lowest graduation rate (70.0%) and highest dropout rate (9.7%).
Key takeaways include a district-wide weakness in English Language Arts, where no school met the state average for English I Reading, and a notable strength in Algebra I at Pasadena Memorial and Tegeler. The data also reveals a spending paradox, as the highest-spending school (The Summit) has the lowest performance, while the lowest-spending school (Pasadena Memorial) leads academically. Overall, parents should consider Pasadena Memorial or Dobie for strong academics and graduation rates, while the alternative schools offer specialized support but with significant trade-offs in performance metrics.
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