Deweyville High School

Deweyville High School is a small, rural school in Orange, TX, serving 294 students in grades 6 through 12 as the sole high school within the Deweyville Independent School District (Isd).

While the school boasts a high graduation rate (94.9%) and a very low student-to-teacher ratio (9.2:1), its academic performance is a significant concern. Over the past five years, Deweyville has seen a troubling downward trend, dropping from the 47th percentile in state rankings to the 23rd percentile. This is especially stark when compared to nearby schools like Evadale High School and Vidor High School, which have improved or held steady. The most critical weakness is in mathematics, where proficiency rates are alarmingly low—for example, 0% of 7th graders were proficient in math recently, and 6th-grade math proficiency has hovered around 10% for years. This systemic failure is not seen in any surrounding schools. Even though the school spends more per student ($13,674) than higher-performing peers like Bridge City High School ($9,874), the small class sizes and resources are not translating into academic success.

There is a glimmer of hope in English Language Arts, where Deweyville’s proficiency rates have been competitive with the best local schools, suggesting the capacity for quality instruction exists. However, this success is not replicated in math or science. The school also struggles to serve all student groups effectively, with Special Education students ranking in the bottom 5% of the state. The high graduation rate, combined with low test scores, suggests students may be graduating without being fully prepared for college or careers. While West Orange-Stark High School has a lower overall ranking, it serves a population with a much higher poverty rate, whereas Deweyville’s underperformance appears more tied to internal school factors than student demographics.