Post Middle

Post Middle in Post, TX, is a small school serving 142 students in grades 6-8, located in a rural area where about two-thirds of students come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. The school is part of the Post Independent School District (Isd), which has historically faced challenges, but Post Middle itself has shown recent improvement, moving from the 13th percentile statewide in 2023-2024 to the 23rd percentile in 2025-2026.

One of the most notable features of Post Middle is its strong investment in resources. The school has an exceptionally low student-to-teacher ratio of 9.7:1—nearly half the state average—and spends over $11,500 per student, above the Texas average. However, despite these advantages, academic proficiency rates lag significantly behind state averages. For example, in 2024-2025, only 9.62% of 8th graders were proficient in math compared to 44.81% statewide, and science proficiency was 19.23% versus 46.25%. This "resource paradox" suggests that the school’s challenges are tied to deeper socioeconomic factors rather than a lack of funding or staffing. There are no other schools within 20 miles for direct comparison, but the school’s performance is notably lower than the state average.

On a positive note, Post Middle has maintained a 0.0% dropout rate for the last four years, showing it successfully keeps students engaged through middle school. Additionally, recent data reveals a glimmer of hope: male students ranked in the 34th percentile and white students in the 31st percentile in 2025-2026, outperforming the school’s overall ranking. The school’s performance is also volatile year-to-year, which is common in small schools where a single cohort can shift scores dramatically. While the school still has significant work to do in core subjects, the upward trend and strong retention rates provide a foundation for future growth.