Compass Rose Ingenuity

Compass Rose Ingenuity in San Antonio, TX, is an alternative school serving 830 students in grades PK through 10, part of the Compass Rose Public Schools district, and serves a high-poverty community where 82-89% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

This school presents a unique "tale of two schools" pattern. While it struggles significantly in elementary grades—with only 25% of 3rd graders proficient in Reading and 21% in Math (well below state averages)—it shows remarkable strength in upper-level English. In English II Reading, the school achieved 61% proficiency, nearly double the district average and actually exceeding the state average. This suggests that students who persist may benefit from a particularly effective high school literacy program. The school also shows surprising strength in Biology (45% proficient) and U.S. History (60% proficient), despite persistent math weaknesses. However, the school's high spending of $14,463 per student has not yet closed the achievement gap in early grades compared to nearby alternatives like Great Hearts Western Hills, which spends significantly less ($8,955) but outperforms in nearly every subject.

Compared to other nearby schools, Compass Rose Ingenuity shows a volatile dropout rate that has fluctuated between 1.5% and 5.4% in recent years, while Harmony Science Academy (San Antonio) maintains a 0.0% dropout rate. The school's Algebra I performance has been particularly erratic, swinging from an astonishing 84% proficiency in 2022-2023 to just 23% the following year. For parents considering this school, the key takeaway is that Compass Rose Ingenuity appears to be a school that excels at developing strong literacy skills by high school, despite significant challenges in elementary grades—a valuable asset for families willing to invest in long-term academic growth.