Summary:
The Simms Independent School District (Isd) is home to a single high school, James Bowie High School, a small rural institution serving grades 9-12 with an enrollment of 153 students. This school stands out for its remarkable academic turnaround, moving from the 60th percentile in state rankings for the 2023-2024 school year to the 75th percentile for 2025-2026, a significant 15-point jump that earned it a 4-star rating. This improvement is especially notable given that nearly 60% of its students are economically disadvantaged, as indicated by free or reduced lunch eligibility.
Key metrics paint a picture of a school that excels in student support and outcomes. James Bowie High School boasts a perfect 100% graduation rate and a 0% dropout rate for the 2023-2024 school year, paired with an exceptionally low student-teacher ratio of 8.1:1. This small class size environment, supported by a spending per student of $14,006, likely drives the school's ability to provide individualized attention. In the most recent STAAR End-of-Course exams, the school outperformed the state average in four of five core subjects, with English II Reading being a standout at 88.89% proficiency compared to the state's 59.88%.
However, a notable anomaly exists in U.S. History, where only 57.89% of students were proficient, falling 12.28 percentage points below the state average of 70.17%. This represents a clear area for curriculum focus. Additionally, while the school's scores match the district's in most subjects, a puzzling discrepancy appears in Algebra I (school at 73.91% vs. district at 80%), which may indicate a data reporting nuance. Overall, James Bowie High School demonstrates a powerful combination of high graduation rates, improving academic performance, and a supportive, small-school environment.
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