Billy Moore

Billy Moore in Overton, TX, is a small high school serving 140 students in grades 9-12 under the The Excel Center (For Adults) district, which ranks in the bottom 12% of Texas districts. Unlike traditional high schools in the area, Billy Moore functions as a dropout recovery or adult education center, focusing on re-engaging students who have left the education system. This mission is reflected in its 57.7% graduation rate and 24.9% dropout rate, which starkly contrast with nearby schools like Whitehouse High School and Troup High School, both boasting graduation rates above 93% and dropout rates below 1%.

Academic proficiency at Billy Moore is significantly lower than state averages and neighboring schools. For instance, only 3.13% of students were proficient in Algebra I compared to 54% statewide, and 30.3% in English II Reading versus 59.88% statewide. However, there is a notable exception in Biology, where 43.18% of students achieved proficiency—closer to the performance of Chapel Hill High School (70.43%) and Henderson High School (52.94%). The school also has a high student-teacher ratio of 21.4:1, larger than all nearby schools, and spends only $6,728 per student—far less than the $9,474 to $19,276 spent by surrounding districts.

Despite these challenges, Billy Moore fills a critical community need by offering a second chance for students who might otherwise not earn a diploma. Its small size leads to volatile subgroup performance, where the results of a few students can dramatically shift rankings from year to year. While its metrics look poor compared to traditional schools, the 57.7% graduation rate may represent a significant success for a population that often has no other pathway to graduation. This school is not a direct alternative to Sabine High School or Kilgore High School; it serves a fundamentally different purpose in the Overton community.