Ut Tyler University Academy At Longview

UT Tyler University Academy at Longview is a small, tuition-free public charter school located on the UT Tyler campus in Longview, TX, serving 466 students in grades K-12 with a strong college-prep focus.

This school stands out for its exceptional academic performance, consistently scoring 20 to 40 percentage points above the state average in nearly every subject and grade level. For example, in 8th Grade Reading, the school achieved a 94.87% proficiency rate compared to the state's 58.69%. The school also boasts a perfect 100% graduation rate for three of the last four years and a 0.0% dropout rate for five consecutive years. In stark contrast, the nearby Texas Virtual Academy at Hallsville—a massive online school with over 19,000 students—reported only a 64.7% graduation rate and a 6.1% dropout rate. The performance gap is equally dramatic in academics, with UT Tyler Academy posting proficiency rates 2 to 10 times higher than the virtual school, such as a 92.86% Algebra I pass rate versus just 5.34%.

Interestingly, the school avoids the typical "middle school slump," showing strong math and reading scores in 7th and 8th grades. However, 5th Grade Science is a relative weak point, with proficiency rates hovering around 38-41%, though still above the state average. The school's affiliation with the UT Tyler University Academy district likely contributes to its rigorous college-prep environment, and it achieves these top-tier results with below-average spending of $8,532 per student—far less than the nearby Juvenile Detent Center ($15,194) or the Texas Virtual Academy ($9,486). This efficiency, combined with perfect graduation and dropout rates, makes UT Tyler Academy a standout choice for families seeking a high-achieving, supportive school community.