Ranger Independent School District (Isd)

The Ranger Independent School District (Isd) is a small, rural district in Texas serving 288 students across three schools: Ranger Elementary (PK-5), Ranger Middle (6-8), and Ranger High School (9-12). The district faces significant challenges, with about 74% of students economically disadvantaged, and it ranks in the 9th percentile statewide, indicating overall academic performance well below the Texas average.

Ranger High School is the district's standout, earning a 2-star rating and ranking in the 32nd percentile among Texas high schools—a notable improvement from prior years. It boasts a 96% graduation rate and strong results in Biology and English I Reading, where proficiency nearly matches or exceeds state averages. In contrast, Ranger Middle is the most challenged, receiving a 0-star rating and ranking in the 6th percentile, with severe struggles in math—0% of 7th graders were proficient. Ranger Elementary falls in between, with some 4th graders showing 52.94% proficiency in reading and math, but scores drop sharply as students move to middle school.

A key finding is the inverse relationship between spending and performance: Ranger High School has the highest per-student spending ($14,313) and lowest student-teacher ratio (6.0), while Ranger Middle has the lowest spending ($10,446) and highest ratio (13.8). This suggests resource allocation may drive the high school's relative success. Additionally, the district's high graduation rate masks low proficiency on end-of-course exams, like only 30% proficient in Algebra I, indicating students may graduate without mastering core content. The sharp decline from elementary to middle school performance points to a critical need for better support during this transition.