Summary:
The Princeton Independent School District (Isd) in Texas serves 13 schools, including 8 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, 1 high school, and 1 alternative school, covering grades PK-12 in a growing suburban area. This analysis highlights standout performers and key challenges for parents evaluating schools in this district.
Among elementary schools, Harper Elementary is the top performer, ranking in the 69th percentile with strong STAAR scores in Reading and Math, while Godwin Elementary and James Elementary rank lowest at the 17th percentile. At the middle school level, Clark Middle stands out as the district's highest-ranked school overall (75th percentile, 4 stars), with a low student-teacher ratio of 12.9 and near-perfect Algebra I EOC proficiency. In contrast, Princeton Senior High School shows critically low proficiency rates in Algebra I (7.69%), Biology (23.08%), and English I (5.17%), despite a 94.1% graduation rate. Interestingly, the alternative Lovelady High School outperforms the main high school in several subjects, with 64.89% proficient in English II.
A key takeaway is the dramatic drop in academic performance from middle to high school, particularly in math, where middle schools like Southard Middle and Mattei Middle achieve 98-100% Algebra I proficiency. Per-student spending varies widely, from $7,972 at Smith Elementary to $10,071 at Clark Middle, but higher spending does not guarantee better results—Lacy Elementary spends $9,719 per student yet ranks lower than Smith. Parents should note the strong link between socioeconomic factors and performance, with schools like Mayfield Elementary and James Elementary facing higher poverty rates and lower rankings, while Harper Elementary has the lowest free/reduced lunch rate among elementary schools.
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