Waco Independent School District (Isd)

The Waco Independent School District (Isd) is a large, urban district in Texas serving 23 schools, including 15 elementary, 3 middle, 3 high, and 2 alternative schools, where the vast majority of students face significant economic challenges.

Within this district, two magnet schools stand out for excellence. Lake Air Montessori School is the district's top performer, earning a 3-star rating and achieving Algebra I proficiency rates of 88.24%, far exceeding the district average of 31.05%. Similarly, Hillcrest Pds Magnet consistently earns 2-3 stars and performs well above district averages. In contrast, G W Carver Middle faces severe challenges, ranking in the bottom 1-3% of Texas middle schools with critically low math proficiency rates, such as only 1.09% of 6th graders proficient in math. Notably, University High School outperforms Waco High School with a graduation rate of 88.3% versus 75.4%, despite both serving similarly disadvantaged populations.

Key metrics reveal a district ranked 905 out of 951 in Texas (5th percentile), with an average free/reduced lunch rate of 89.5%. Middle school math is a district-wide crisis, with 7th-grade proficiency rates below 4% at all three middle schools. However, advanced 8th graders taking Algebra I at Cesar Chavez Middle (73.68%) and Tennyson Middle (71.31%) show strong results. Spending does not guarantee success: G L Wiley Opportunity Center spends $121,135 per student yet has 0% proficiency in most subjects, while Lake Air Montessori spends only $11,110 per student. The alternative schools, including Challenge Academy, maintain 0% dropout rates, highlighting their critical role in keeping at-risk students in the educational system.