Somerset Academy Collegiate

Somerset Academy Collegiate in San Antonio, TX, is a large alternative school serving 1,080 students in grades PK through 12, and it is part of the Somerset Academies Of Texas district, which is ranked in the bottom 25% of Texas school districts.

The most striking feature of this school is the stark contrast between its high graduation rate and its very low academic test scores. While nearly 94% of students graduate—a rate comparable to high-performing schools like Advanced Learning Academy—the school struggles significantly with state assessments. For example, in a recent year, only about 3% of students passed Algebra I, compared to 50% at Advanced Learning Academy. This suggests the school is effective at keeping students on track to earn a diploma but may not be providing the rigorous instruction needed to achieve grade-level proficiency. The school serves a predominantly low-income community, with nearly 74% of students eligible for free or reduced lunch, which is much higher than nearby schools like Valor San Antonio (16%). However, a nearby school, Compass Rose Opportunity, also serves a high-poverty population but achieves dramatically higher test scores, showing that demographics alone do not determine outcomes.

There is a glimmer of hope in the upper grades, where students perform better on some End-of-Course exams. For instance, 69% passed U.S. History, which is above the state average. Yet, the school’s performance in mathematics is consistently poor across all grade levels, with only 6% of 5th graders proficient in math in a recent year. This pattern suggests that while the school excels at administrative support to keep students enrolled, it faces significant challenges in delivering effective instruction, especially in math. For parents, this means Somerset Academy Collegiate may be a good fit if the priority is ensuring a student graduates, but it may not provide the academic foundation needed for college or career readiness without additional support.