Kenedy High School

Kenedy High School is a small, rural high school in Kenedy, TX, serving 219 students in grades 9-12 as part of the Kenedy Independent School District (Isd), where nearly 80% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

Kenedy High School shows a complex picture of strengths and challenges. Its most notable achievement is exceptional performance with English Language Learners (ELL), ranking in the 84th percentile statewide in 2025-2026—a dramatic turnaround from previous years. The school also consistently outperforms the state average in English II Reading, with 63.41% of students proficient compared to the state's 59.88%. However, overall academic outcomes lag behind, with only 31.67% proficient in Algebra I and 43.75% in Biology. The school spends $17,066 per student, significantly more than nearby top-performing Falls City High School ($13,933), yet Falls City achieves much higher test scores. A persistent gender gap exists, with male students outperforming female students for three consecutive years. Additionally, the school shows extreme volatility in serving Special Education students, ranking in the 95th percentile one year and the 4th percentile the next.

Compared to nearby schools, Kenedy stands out for its high graduation rate of 90.0%, which is significantly better than Karnes City High School (70.2%), despite serving a more disadvantaged population. This suggests Kenedy's support systems are effective at keeping students in school, even if test scores don't reflect grade-level mastery. The contrast with Falls City, a top-tier school with low poverty (23.9% free/reduced lunch), highlights the strong link between socioeconomic factors and academic outcomes. Note that the nearby Connally school is an adult education center with a 25.8% dropout rate and is not a direct peer for comparison.