Summary:
Willis Independent School District (Isd) is a mid-sized Texas district with 10 schools serving pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, ranking in the 34th percentile statewide and showing significant performance gaps between its elementary schools and its secondary schools.
The district's elementary schools present a stark contrast. Eddie Ruth Lagway Elementary is the standout, consistently earning a 4-star rating and ranking in the top 12% of Texas elementary schools, with test scores far above district and state averages. In contrast, C C Hardy Elementary is the most challenged, ranking in the 7th percentile with proficiency rates drastically below state averages. This divide is also reflected in socioeconomic factors, with free/reduced lunch rates ranging from 37.96% at W Lloyd Meador Elementary to 84.26% at C C Hardy. Middle schools face a district-wide crisis in grade-level math, with proficiency rates around 17-23% compared to the state average of 29%, yet they show remarkable strength in advanced coursework like Algebra I, where Robert P Brabham Middle achieves near-perfect proficiency.
High school performance is mediocre but stable, with Willis High School consistently ranking in the 40th-44th percentile and maintaining a strong 94.3% graduation rate. The district also includes Stubblefield Academy, a small alternative high school with very high per-student spending ($31,738) and extremely low academic performance, typical of a specialized program. Notably, higher spending does not guarantee success—Parmley Elementary spends the most among standard schools ($9,530 per student) but ranks in the 48th percentile, while Eddie Ruth Lagway spends less ($8,553) and outperforms it significantly.
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