Rise

Rise in Alvin, TX, is a small, alternative high school within the Alvin Independent School District (Isd) serving 116 students in grades 9-12, with over 70% qualifying for free or reduced lunch, and it has shown a remarkable trajectory from ranking in the bottom 20% of Texas high schools to a more stable position in the 40th percentile over the last three years.

Rise stands out dramatically from nearby comprehensive high schools like Alvin High School and Manvel High School due to its exceptionally low student-teacher ratio of 5.7:1, compared to their ratios of 15.4:1 to 17.9:1, and its high per-student spending of $18,162, nearly double that of its larger neighbors. While its standardized test scores are below district and state averages—for example, only 34.48% of students were proficient in English I Reading versus the district's 60.3%—the school achieves perfect 100% graduation rates and 0.0% dropout rates for four of the last five years. This paradox suggests Rise prioritizes providing a supportive, alternative pathway to graduation for students who have struggled in traditional large-school environments, focusing on credit recovery and student persistence over high-stakes test performance.

Most notably, Rise excels with its most vulnerable student subgroups, ranking in the 97th percentile for Special Education Students and the 96th percentile for English Language Learner (ELL) Students in the 2025-2026 school year, a remarkable achievement that is hidden by its overall 2-star rating. Compared to Adapt, another small alternative school in the same district serving a similar demographic, Rise significantly outperforms it in academic proficiency—for instance, 57.69% of Rise students were proficient in Algebra I versus Adapt's 17.39%—indicating Rise has found a more effective formula for academic success. This makes Rise a vital resource for the Alvin ISD community, especially for families seeking a specialized, intensive environment that ensures students cross the finish line.