Southwest Independent School District (Isd)

The Southwest Independent School District (Isd) in Texas serves 18 schools, including three high schools, four middle schools, and 11 elementary schools, in a community where a high percentage of students face economic challenges.

Within the district, Cast Stem High School stands out as the top performer, boasting a 100% graduation rate and strong test scores, likely due to its specialized STEM focus and small size. In contrast, Bob Hope Elementary struggles significantly, with the lowest rankings and critically low math scores. Big Country Elementary is a rising star, consistently exceeding state averages in reading and math and earning a 4-star rating. Meanwhile, Sky Harbour Elementary serves the highest percentage of economically disadvantaged students and faces major academic hurdles. The district's middle schools show an interesting pattern: while general math scores are low, their Algebra I scores are very high, suggesting only top students take that advanced course. Additionally, several elementary schools, including Southwest Elementary and Bob Hope Elementary, achieve remarkable success on Spanish-language STAAR tests, often far exceeding state averages, indicating that native-language instruction benefits many English learners.

Overall, the district ranks in the bottom third of Texas, with an average free/reduced lunch rate of about 82%. Spending per student varies widely, from $10,314 at Big Country Elementary to $13,798 at Cast Stem High School, with higher spending often going to lower-performing schools, showing that money alone doesn't guarantee success. The student-teacher ratio averages 14.3:1, with Cast Stem High School having the most favorable ratio at 10.2:1.