San Augustine High School

San Augustine High School is a small, rural school in San Augustine, TX, serving 320 students in grades 6 through 12 as part of the San Augustine Independent School District (Isd).

This school faces significant academic challenges, ranking in the bottom 10% of Texas high schools. On state STAAR exams, proficiency rates are notably low—for example, only 19.6% of students met the standard in English I Reading and 29.4% in Biology. These scores are far below state averages and nearby schools like Hemphill High School, where 60.9% of students passed English I Reading and 86.5% passed Biology. Despite these struggles, the school reports a 100% graduation rate, creating a paradox where nearly all students earn diplomas but many lack the academic skills measured by state tests. The school spends a high amount per student ($16,276) and maintains a very low student-to-teacher ratio (9.4:1), yet these resources have not translated into stronger academic outcomes. The high level of economic disadvantage—over 80% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch—is a major factor, especially when compared to Hemphill, which has a similar size and ratio but a lower poverty rate (50.66%) and performs in the top 25% of the state.

One interesting finding is that the school’s White students performed better than other subgroups, earning a 3-star rating in the 2025-2026 school year. This suggests there may be effective strategies for some students that could be expanded to help others. Overall, San Augustine High School is successfully keeping students in school and graduating them, but it needs to focus on improving instruction and support to ensure those graduates are truly prepared for college or careers. The success of nearby Hemphill High School offers a potential model for improvement in this rural setting.