Ozona High School

Ozona High School in Ozona, TX, is a small rural school serving 214 students in grades 9-12 within the Crockett County Consolidated Central School District, where about 60% of students come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. With no other high schools within 20 miles, it stands out for its exceptionally low student-to-teacher ratio of 8.1:1, which creates a highly personalized learning environment that has helped the school achieve a perfect 100% graduation rate and 0% dropout rate for three of the last five years.

Academically, Ozona High School shows a mixed picture. It consistently outperforms the state average in Biology, with 82% of students proficient compared to the state's 71%, and its Gifted and Talented program ranks in the 99th percentile. However, the school struggles in Algebra I and English I, where proficiency rates of 42% and 41% respectively fall below state averages. This creates an interesting paradox: the school excels at keeping students on track to graduate, but many students are not reaching proficiency in these core subjects. Performance also varies significantly by gender, with female students ranking in the 72nd percentile while male students rank in the 32nd percentile, suggesting that instructional approaches may need adjustment to better support all learners.

The school's performance is notably volatile from year to year, which is common for very small schools where a handful of students can shift averages dramatically. While the school spends over $15,000 per student—a relatively high amount for a rural school—the key question for parents is whether these resources are being directed effectively to address the persistent weaknesses in math and early high school literacy. The school's English Language Learner program is an urgent concern, ranking in the bottom 7th percentile, which represents a significant equity gap that families should discuss with school leadership.