Riesel Independent School District (Isd)

The Riesel Independent School District (Isd) is a small, unified district in Texas serving 689 students across two schools: Foster Elementary (Pre-K through 6th grade) and Riesel School (7th through 12th grade). The district ranks in the 88th percentile in Texas with a 4-star rating, indicating strong overall performance.

Riesel School stands out as an academic powerhouse, particularly in advanced coursework and End-of-Course exams. It boasts a 100% graduation rate and a very low dropout rate of 0.3%, with exceptional proficiency in science and history—Biology scores reached 82.14% and U.S. History 79.59%, both well above state averages. However, a notable anomaly is 7th-grade math, where proficiency rates of 21.88% to 25.71% fall below state averages, suggesting a specific instructional challenge. In contrast, Foster Elementary is a consistent performer, achieving proficiency rates above state averages in every grade and subject tested. Its 6th-grade reading proficiency of 76.6% is 23 percentage points above the state average, and the school has shown a positive upward trend in its state ranking, moving from the 65th to the 79th percentile over recent years.

Key metrics reveal an inverse relationship between spending and student-teacher ratios: the high school spends $10,563 per student with a 10.3:1 ratio, while the elementary school spends $8,417 per student with a 16.7:1 ratio, indicating a focus on smaller classes at the secondary level. Both schools excel in reading, with strong literacy foundations driving success across subjects. The district serves a moderate population of economically disadvantaged students (49.58% at elementary, 41.02% at high school). Overall, Foster Elementary provides a strong, broad-based foundation, while Riesel School excels in advanced academics, making the district a solid choice for families seeking consistent performance and college preparation.