Plano Independent School District (Isd)

The Plano Independent School District (Isd) is a large, high-performing suburban district in Texas, serving 69 schools from elementary through high school, and is known for its strong academic reputation and diverse student population.

Standout schools in the district include Rice Middle, which ranks in the 99th percentile statewide with proficiency rates often exceeding 90%, and Skaggs Elementary and Wyatt Elementary, both also in the 99th percentile with incredibly high test scores. Academy High School leads the high schools with a perfect 100% graduation rate and 0% dropout rate, while Jasper High School, an alternative school, achieves remarkable results with a 0% dropout rate and test scores rivaling top comprehensive high schools. In contrast, schools like Mendenhall Elementary, Forman Elementary, and Barron Elementary face significant challenges, with high poverty rates and test scores well below district averages. The three main senior high schools—Plano East Senior High School, Plano West Senior High School, and Plano Senior High School—serve only grades 11-12 and show a unique pattern where test scores are heavily influenced by students who have struggled previously.

Key metrics reveal a district-wide graduation rate of 93.6% and a dropout rate of 0.8%, with spending per student varying widely from $7,741 at Murphy Middle to $15,032 at Barron Elementary. A notable finding is that higher spending does not guarantee higher performance, as the lowest-spending schools often achieve top results. Additionally, middle school math is a persistent challenge, with 7th-grade mathematics proficiency significantly lower than other subjects across almost all middle schools, while advanced students excel in Algebra I End-of-Course exams. The "alternative" school label can be misleading, as schools like Jasper High School outperform many traditional campuses, highlighting the district's complex educational landscape.