Benavides Independent School District (Isd)

The Benavides Independent School District (Isd) is a small, rural district in Texas serving approximately 148 students across two schools: Benavides Elementary (Pre-K through 5th grade) and Benavides Secondary (6th through 12th grade). The district faces significant academic challenges, particularly in mathematics, though it also shows notable strengths in specific high school subjects.

Benavides Secondary stands out as a school on the rise, jumping from the 21st percentile to the 69th percentile in state rankings over three years. It excels in End-of-Course exams, with 90.91% proficiency in Biology and 83.33% in English I Reading, both well above state averages. However, it struggles with middle school math, where 0% of 6th and 7th graders were proficient, and U.S. History proficiency is low at 47.06%. In contrast, Benavides Elementary is in a state of crisis, dropping to the 0th percentile in state rankings with near-zero proficiency rates in core subjects. The district spends over $20,000 per student and maintains very low student-teacher ratios (5.5:1 at Secondary, 7.1:1 at Elementary), yet performance remains poor, highlighting a paradox where resources do not translate into results.

Key metrics include a 96.6% graduation rate and 0% dropout rate at the Secondary school, though this may mask underlying academic gaps. Mathematics is a district-wide crisis from 3rd through 8th grade, with proficiency rates consistently far below state averages. The high school shows strong improvement, but the elementary school’s struggles create a weak foundation. The district’s high poverty rate (nearly 90% eligible for free or reduced lunch) likely contributes to these challenges, making the Secondary school’s recent gains particularly impressive while underscoring the urgent need for intervention at the elementary level.