Summary:
The Rusk Independent School District (Isd) serves approximately 2,057 students across five schools—Gw Bradford Pri (PK-1), Rusk Elementary (2-3), Rusk Intermediate (4-5), Rusk J H (6-8), and Rusk High School (9-12)—in a mid-sized East Texas community where a high percentage of students (61% to 70%) are economically disadvantaged.
Rusk Elementary is the district’s academic standout, with 3rd graders achieving 71.65% proficiency in Reading and 60.32% in Math—dramatically outperforming state averages by over 20 and 16 points, respectively. This creates a notable "3rd grade bump," as performance drops sharply at Rusk Intermediate, where 4th grade Reading falls to 49.35%. Rusk J H presents a fascinating contrast: while standard 7th grade Math proficiency is a low point at roughly 15%, its accelerated Algebra I program for 8th graders achieves a remarkable 93%+ proficiency rate, nearly double the district average. Rusk High School serves as a stabilizing force, boasting a 97.7% graduation rate and a 0.6% dropout rate, with English II and U.S. History scores exceeding state averages.
Spending per student varies from $10,308 at Rusk J H to $12,234 at Rusk Elementary, but higher spending does not guarantee better results—Rusk Intermediate spends nearly as much as the top performer yet shows below-average scores. The district overall holds a 3-star rating and ranks in the 55th percentile among Texas districts, reflecting solid but uneven performance. For parents, this means early elementary years are a strength, middle school math is a challenge unless a student is accelerated, and the high school reliably supports students to graduation.
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