Summary:
The Terrell Independent School District (Isd) serves approximately 8 schools, including elementary, middle, and high schools, in a suburban area east of Dallas, Texas.
The standout school in the district is Global Leadership Academy, a 5-star elementary school ranked in the 97th percentile statewide, with proficiency rates far exceeding both district and state averages—for example, 87.5% of its 5th graders are proficient in reading compared to the district's 37%. In contrast, the district's main high school, Terrell High School, holds a 1-star rating and ranks in the 25th percentile, with a 91.2% graduation rate but low academic proficiency in core subjects like Algebra I (22.48%) and English I (43.41%). The middle school, Herman Furlough Junior Middle, shows a critical weakness in 7th-grade math, where only 4.79% of students are proficient, though it excels in accelerating top students with 61.34% proficiency in 8th-grade Algebra I. The alternative schools, Terrell Alternative Education Center/Phoenix School and Tisd Child & Adolescent School, serve high-need populations with very low test scores and high dropout rates, but they also have the highest per-student spending in the district, reflecting the intensive resources required.
Overall, the district ranks in the 17th percentile statewide with a 1-star rating, and most schools serve a high-poverty population, with free/reduced lunch rates ranging from 52.51% at Global Leadership Academy to 83.31% at Gilbert Willie Senior Elementary. A key takeaway is the systemic math crisis that begins in middle school and cascades into high school, while Global Leadership Academy's success offers a model for potential improvement. Parents should note that while some schools like J W Long Elementary and Dr Bruce Wood Elementary show average performance, the district's overall trend is stagnant or declining, making it crucial to research individual school strengths and challenges.
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