Refugio Independent School District (Isd)

The Refugio Independent School District (Isd) serves approximately 656 students across three schools—Refugio Elementary (PK-5), Refugio J H (6-8), and Refugio High School (9-12)—in a rural Texas community where a majority of students (57% to 68%) qualify for free or reduced lunch, reflecting significant socioeconomic challenges.

Refugio High School is the district's standout, earning a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger and ranking in the 53rd to 54th percentile statewide—far above the district's overall 29th percentile. It excels in English Language Arts and U.S. History, with proficiency rates exceeding state averages, and boasts a 97.8% graduation rate with a 0.0% dropout rate. In contrast, Refugio Elementary and Refugio J H both hold 1-star ratings, with elementary students scoring well below state averages in reading and math. However, the junior high has a remarkable "pocket of excellence": 92.31% of its 8th graders taking Algebra I are proficient, a stunning 38 points above the state average, even as general math proficiency for 6th and 7th graders hovers around 15%.

Key metrics reveal a district with small class sizes (student-teacher ratios from 8.5 to 13.9) and varying per-student spending ($12,991 at junior high to $20,764 at high school). The high school's higher spending correlates with its strong performance, while the junior high's lower spending and low ratios don't translate to overall success. A critical "Algebra I bottleneck" emerges: the select group taking the test in 8th grade excels, but the remaining students who take it in high school achieve only 28.13% proficiency. This suggests Refugio High School has effective interventions that overcome weak elementary foundations, while the junior high's advanced math program contrasts sharply with its struggling general math instruction—a key area for district focus.