Summary:
The South San Antonio Independent School District (Isd) serves two high schools in a highly economically disadvantaged area of Texas, where over 80% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, and the district itself ranks in the 10th percentile statewide. South San Antonio High School is the district's primary comprehensive high school, enrolling 2,190 students in grades 9-12, while the Alternative School is a much smaller campus serving 62 students in grades 6-12 with a specialized mission.
Comparing the two schools reveals stark contrasts. South San Antonio High School reports a graduation rate of 79.0% and a dropout rate of 2.7%, with mixed academic performance—struggling significantly in Algebra I (8.42% proficient in 2025-2026) but performing relatively better in Biology (56.03%) and U.S. History (56.50%). In contrast, the Alternative School achieves a perfect 0.0% dropout rate, yet records 0% proficiency in 7 of 11 tested subjects, including all End-of-Course exams. This suggests the Alternative School prioritizes student retention and social support over traditional academic achievement, acting as a "last chance" environment for at-risk students.
Key takeaways include a critical "Algebra I wall" at South San Antonio High School, where proficiency dropped to just 5.7% in 2024-2025, acting as a major barrier to higher-level math and graduation. The Alternative School's extremely low scores also drag down the district's overall averages, despite its success in keeping students enrolled. Overall, South San Antonio High School shows incremental progress from a low base, but both schools face profound challenges compared to state benchmarks.
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