Frederick A Douglass Learning Academy

Frederick A Douglass Learning Academy is a small high school in Cleveland, TX, serving 129 students in grades 9 through 12 within the Cleveland Independent School District (Isd), a district that ranks in the bottom 5% of all Texas school districts.

The most critical factor for parents to understand is the school's extremely low academic performance. In the most recent testing year, the school recorded a 0% proficiency rate in Algebra I, compared to the district average of 28.57% and the state average of 54.03%. Proficiency in English I Reading (6.67%) and Biology (16.67%) is also severely depressed. These scores are significantly lower than every other nearby school, including Cleveland High School, which is located just 0.7 miles away. The school also shows extreme volatility in its graduation rate, which has swung from a low of 67.3% to a high of 96.7% in recent years, while nearby schools like Tarkington High School maintain stable rates above 95%. This data strongly suggests the school functions as an alternative or disciplinary campus for students who have not succeeded in a traditional high school setting.

Despite spending over $22,000 per student—roughly double the spending of Cleveland High School ($10,448) and Kingwood Park High School ($10,371)—the school achieves the lowest academic results in the region. This disconnect suggests the high spending is consumed by the costs of supporting a small, high-needs student population rather than driving academic gains. There is one relative bright spot: in U.S. History, 39.13% of students were proficient, the school's highest rate across all subjects, which could indicate an effective teacher or curriculum in that area. Additionally, English Language Learner students ranked in the 10th percentile statewide, the school's highest subgroup ranking, suggesting a program that is relatively more effective for this population.