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Bells High School

Q: Is Bells High School a good school?

Bells High School ranks 423 rd of 2009 Texas high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

423^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,009 Texas High Schools

Better than 79% of Texas high schools

Summary

Bells High School is a small, high-performing rural school in Bells, TX, serving 318 students in grades 9-12 as part of the top-ranked Bells Independent School District (Isd). This school stands out for its exceptional academic performance, particularly on STAAR End-of-Course exams, where it consistently outperforms both the state average and nearly all nearby schools. For example, in Biology, 88.46% of Bells students were proficient, compared to the state average of 70.51%, and significantly higher than larger schools like Sherman High School (65.44%) and Denison High School (76.4%). Similarly, in English I and II Reading, Bells' proficiency rates (71.95% and 82.05%) are roughly 20-30 percentage points higher than these larger neighbors.

Bells High School also boasts a near-perfect graduation rate of 97% or higher for the last five years, including two years at 100%, and a remarkably low dropout rate of 0.3%. This is far better than Sherman High School (2.2% dropout rate) and Denison High School (0.8% dropout rate). With a low student-to-teacher ratio of 10.4:1 and a relatively low poverty rate (33% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch), the school provides a focused, intimate learning environment that contrasts with larger, higher-poverty schools in the region. This small-school advantage helps Bells maintain its status as the highest-ranked traditional high school in its immediate vicinity, ranking 423rd out of 2,009 Texas high schools (79th percentile), well ahead of Whitewright High School (436th) and Howe High School (486th).

While the school excels overall, recent data shows a slight dip in performance for its White and Hispanic student subgroups, which could be an area to watch. However, Bells has demonstrated a remarkable turnaround for its Special Education students, jumping from the 46th percentile in 2023-2024 to the 87th percentile in 2025-2026, indicating highly successful interventions. Overall, Bells High School is an academic beacon in a region where many schools struggle, consistently earning a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger for the past decade and proving that a smaller school can deliver elite outcomes.

318

Students ?

10.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,341

Per pupil spending ?

33.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1500 Ole Ambrose Rd
Bells, TX 75414-0007

(903) 965-3603

District: Bells Independent School District (Isd)

Feeder schools for Bells High School:

Elementary:	Bells Elementary
Middle:	Pritchard J H

Racial breakdown:

White:

82.4%

Hispanic:

10.1%

Two or more races:

4.1%

See top rated Texas high schools

Compare Bells High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 85th percentile in 2016 → 79th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Texas average (74% vs 62% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 21% of Texas high schools

✓97% graduate within 4 years

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 6 percentile points since 2016

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school74%

District avg75%

Texas avg62%

423^rd of 2,009

Texas public high schools ?

Top 21%▼ down 6 pts since 2016

From top 15% (2016) to top 21% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Texas High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

120^th of 951Bells Independent School District (Isd) among Texas districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	70.6	423 of 2009	78.9%	★★★★☆
2025	70.2	409 of 1974	79.3%	★★★★☆
2024	73.5	349 of 1990	82.5%	★★★★☆
2023	80.4	203 of 1961	89.6%	★★★★☆
2022	75.6	275 of 1876	85.3%	★★★★☆
2021	72.3	369 of 1861	80.2%	★★★★☆
2019	69.4	390 of 1857	79.0%	★★★★☆
2018	71.1	318 of 1797	82.3%	★★★★☆
2017	68.6	378 of 1777	78.7%	★★★★☆
2016	73.8	272 of 1762	84.6%	★★★★☆
2015	73.8	281 of 1743	83.9%	★★★★☆
2014	75.1	252 of 1734	85.5%	★★★★☆
2013	65.9	460 of 1652	72.2%	★★★★☆
2012	62.4	486 of 1603	69.7%	★★★☆☆
2011	80.4	78 of 1672	95.3%	★★★★★
2010	75.9	182 of 1568	88.4%	★★★★☆
2009	77.4	184 of 1539	88.0%	★★★★☆
2008	69.9	401 of 1510	73.4%	★★★★☆
2007	69.9	424 of 1497	71.7%	★★★★☆
2006	69.9	390 of 1430	72.7%	★★★★☆
2005	71.6	336 of 1429	76.5%	★★★★☆
2004	76.5	191 of 1427	86.6%	★★★★☆

At Risk

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2022	48.7	718 of 1837	60.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	47.8	805 of 1829	56.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	55.4	577 of 1810	68.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	52.1	610 of 1784	65.8%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	72.8	337 of 1936	82.6%	★★★★☆
2024	67.7	411 of 1880	78.1%	★★★★☆
2023	83.4	129 of 1891	93.2%	★★★★★
2022	75.2	267 of 1841	85.5%	★★★★☆
2021	78.3	235 of 1815	87.1%	★★★★☆
2019	63.1	566 of 1798	68.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	65.7	479 of 1781	73.1%	★★★★☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	70.7	124 of 1206	89.7%	★★★★☆
2023	72.0	210 of 1182	82.2%	★★★★☆
2022	72.9	78 of 1172	93.3%	★★★★★
2021	73.2	233 of 1177	80.2%	★★★★☆
2019	67.0	385 of 1145	66.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	72.2	234 of 1137	79.4%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	54.6	715 of 1860	61.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	77.0	208 of 1805	88.5%	★★★★☆
2023	71.0	328 of 1820	82.0%	★★★★☆
2022	73.6	256 of 1762	85.5%	★★★★☆
2021	69.6	343 of 1743	80.3%	★★★★☆
2019	78.0	202 of 1714	88.2%	★★★★☆
2018	63.8	421 of 1691	75.1%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2024	57.7	551 of 1884	70.8%	★★★★☆
2023	74.6	241 of 1897	87.3%	★★★★☆
2022	61.3	449 of 1847	75.7%	★★★★☆
2021	77.0	196 of 1848	89.4%	★★★★☆
2019	47.8	877 of 1818	51.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	56.4	587 of 1794	67.3%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	65.9	499 of 1954	74.5%	★★★★☆
2024	69.3	366 of 1891	80.6%	★★★★☆
2023	72.3	355 of 1913	81.4%	★★★★☆
2022	72.1	331 of 1853	82.1%	★★★★☆
2021	65.2	504 of 1840	72.6%	★★★★☆
2019	72.0	328 of 1824	82.0%	★★★★☆
2018	73.7	296 of 1803	83.6%	★★★★☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	73.4	133 of 713	81.3%	★★★★☆
2024	76.6	103 of 731	85.9%	★★★★☆
2023	87.5	39 of 677	94.2%	★★★★★
2022	8.6	625 of 664	5.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	78.7	68 of 588	88.4%	★★★★☆
2018	43.5	327 of 582	43.8%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	73.7	207 of 1581	86.9%	★★★★☆
2024	42.3	830 of 1548	46.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	52.0	542 of 1478	63.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	62.5	316 of 1418	77.7%	★★★★☆
2021	39.2	782 of 1382	43.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	65.9	260 of 1357	80.8%	★★★★☆
2018	51.4	469 of 1347	65.2%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	56.6	632 of 1584	60.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	54.3	616 of 1556	60.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	67.6	378 of 1576	76.0%	★★★★☆
2022	62.1	455 of 1525	70.2%	★★★★☆
2021	54.8	643 of 1510	57.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	56.2	601 of 1526	60.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	57.0	574 of 1539	62.7%	★★★☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Gifted and Talented (2026)90th percentile+11 vs school

Special Education (2026)87th percentile+8 vs school

Female (2026)83rd percentile+4 vs school

Multi-racial (2026)81st percentile~ school

Male (2026)74th percentile-4 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2024)71st percentile-12 vs school

Hispanic (2026)62nd percentile-17 vs school

At Risk (2022)61st percentile-24 vs school

White (2026)60th percentile-19 vs school

By subject vs Texas (2025-2026) ?

Biology88%+18 vs state

English II Reading82%+22 vs state

English I Reading72%+17 vs state

U.S. History70%~ state avg

Algebra I53%~ state avg

★

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Schools Near Bells High School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				STAAR EOC Algebra I (2026)	STAAR EOC Biology (2026)	STAAR EOC English I Reading (2026)	STAAR EOC English II Reading (2026)	STAAR EOC U.S. History (2026)	STAAR Reading (2026)			STAAR Mathematics (2026)			STAAR Social Studies (2026)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	STAAR EOC Algebra I End of Course	STAAR EOC Biology End of Course	STAAR EOC English I Reading End of Course	STAAR EOC English II Reading End of Course	STAAR EOC U.S. History End of Course	STAAR Reading 6th Grade	STAAR Reading 7th Grade	STAAR Reading 8th Grade	STAAR Mathematics 6th Grade	STAAR Mathematics 7th Grade	STAAR Mathematics 8th Grade	STAAR Social Studies 8th Grade	Total
Bells High School	Public	9-12	1500 Ole Ambrose Rd	Bells	75414	Grayson County	Bells Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	No	(903) 965-3603	318	31	10.4	33.6%	262 (82.4%)	3 (0.9%)	32 (10.1%)	3 (0.9%)	4 (1.3%)	1 (0.3%)	13 (4.1%)	70.6	423^rd of 2009 public high schools	78.9%		70.2	409^th of 1974 public high schools	79.3%	14	52.5	88.5	72.0	82.1	70.4								$13,341
Savoy High School	Public	7-12	605 E Hayes	Savoy	75479	Fannin County	Savoy Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	No	(903) 965-4024	128	14	8.8	53.1%	101 (78.9%)	1 (0.8%)	19 (14.8%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (3.9%)	57.6	748^th of 2009 public high schools	62.8%		37.3	1231^st of 1974 public high schools	37.6%	483	20.0	70.0	63.2	76.2	81.8		78.6	70.0		64.3	21.4	15.0	$17,822
Ector High School	Public	6-12	301 S Main	Ector	75439	Fannin County	Ector Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(903) 961-2076	110	13	8.7	49.1%	87 (79.1%)	1 (0.9%)	17 (15.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (3.6%)	44	1124^th of 2009 public high schools	44.1%		34.2	1285^th of 1974 public high schools	34.9%	161	40.0	66.7	46.7	45.8	80.0	33.3	46.2	64.3	28.6	15.4	64.3	28.6	$12,113
Whitewright High School	Public	9-12	304 W Echols Ln	Whitewright	75491	Grayson County	Whitewright Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	No	(903) 364-2535	222	26	8.3	45.5%	148 (66.7%)	10 (4.5%)	43 (19.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (9.0%)	69.9	436^th of 2009 public high schools	78.3%		59.3	688^th of 1974 public high schools	65.1%	252	64.3	78.2	80.0	74.4	71.9								$10,652
Tom Bean High School	Public	9-12	7719 State Hwy 11	Tom Bean	75489	Grayson County	Tom Bean Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	No	(903) 546-6319	213	21	10.0	31.9%	169 (79.3%)	2 (0.9%)	35 (16.4%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.9%)	60.9	668^th of 2009 public high schools	66.7%		57	746^th of 1974 public high schools	62.2%	78	47.5	79.0	68.9	77.2	63.8								$14,269
Pathways High School	Public	9-12	318 W Morgan St	Denison	75020	Grayson County	Denison Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	No	(903) 462-7150	62	5	13.2	75.8%	31 (50.0%)	7 (11.3%)	18 (29.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (9.7%)	3.1	1925^th of 2009 public high schools	4.2%		8.7	1802^nd of 1974 public high schools	8.7%	123	0.0	28.6	20.0	11.8	8.3								$10,900
Bonham High School	Public	9-12	1002 Warpath Dr	Bonham	75418	Fannin County	Bonham Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(903) 583-5567	591	48	12.3	57.7%	304 (51.4%)	30 (5.1%)	205 (34.7%)	3 (0.5%)	6 (1.0%)	1 (0.2%)	42 (7.1%)	23.5	1605^th of 2009 public high schools	20.1%		28.4	1436^th of 1974 public high schools	27.3%	169	14.1	54.2	45.8	41.0	51.1								$9,112
Sherman High School	Public	9-12	2907 W Travis St	Sherman	75092	Grayson County	Sherman Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(903) 891-6440	2,143	163	13.1	68.8%	624 (29.1%)	257 (12.0%)	1,036 (48.3%)	69 (3.2%)	18 (0.8%)	3 (0.1%)	136 (6.3%)	37.2	1308^th of 2009 public high schools	34.9%		39.6	1175^th of 1974 public high schools	40.5%	133	34.6	65.4	43.8	53.9	62.1								$10,601
Denison High School	Public	9-12	4200 N State Hwy 91	Denison	75020	Grayson County	Denison Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	No	(903) 462-7125	1,351	97	13.9	56.6%	727 (53.8%)	125 (9.3%)	335 (24.8%)	18 (1.3%)	19 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	127 (9.4%)	45.7	1077^th of 2009 public high schools	46.4%		47.3	982^nd of 1974 public high schools	50.3%	95	41.5	76.4	49.4	60.5	61.1								$9,478
Howe High School	Public	9-12	200 E Ponderosa	Howe	75459	Grayson County	Howe Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	No	(903) 745-4400	363	35	10.4	35.0%	230 (63.4%)	11 (3.0%)	95 (26.2%)	1 (0.3%)	4 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (6.1%)	67.5	486^th of 2009 public high schools	75.8%		66	524^th of 1974 public high schools	73.5%	38	37.8	86.4	65.0	81.5	79.3								$11,283

Frequently Asked Questions about Bells High School

What is the racial makeup of Bells High School?

Students at Bells High School are 82% White, 10% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races, 1% American Indian.

Is Bells High School a good school?

Bells High School ranks 423^rd of 2009 Texas high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What schools feed into Bells High School?

Bells High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Bells Elementary
Middle : Pritchard J H

What district is Bells High School in?

Bells Independent School District (Isd)

How many students attend Bells High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 318 students attended Bells High School.

Rate Bells High School!

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Latest Texas data All new data »

2025–26 STAAR, STAAR EOC & STAAR Spanish test scoresJun 12, 2026

2021–22 through 2023–24 school spending dataJan 10, 2026

2023–24 dropout rates & graduation ratesSep 17, 2025

2024–25 STAAR EOC & STAAR Spanish test scoresJun 23, 2025

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Texas Education Agency.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.