Summary:
In zip code 75601 of Longview, Texas, there are two high schools serving grades 9 through 12: Lead Academy High School and Dan Chadwick Campus, which present a stark contrast in academic performance and resource efficiency.
Dan Chadwick Campus, a charter school under East Texas Charter Schools, is the standout performer with a 4-star rating and a state ranking in the 74th percentile. It boasts a perfect 100% graduation rate, a 0% dropout rate, and significantly outperforms state averages in Algebra I, Biology, and English II. In contrast, Lead Academy High School, part of Longview Independent School District (Isd), holds a 1-star rating and ranks in the bottom 23rd percentile, with test scores well below state averages and a higher dropout rate of 2.9%. A key finding is the spending paradox: Lead Academy spends $15,737 per student—over $5,000 more than Dan Chadwick Campus—yet achieves far lower academic outcomes, suggesting the charter school uses its resources more effectively.
Despite these differences, both schools share a geographic proximity but serve different populations. Lead Academy has a high economic disadvantage rate of 85.57% free/reduced lunch, while Dan Chadwick Campus did not report this data. Interestingly, Lead Academy shows a "Biology anomaly," nearly matching the state average in Biology proficiency (70.59% vs. 70.51%), hinting at a possible strong science program. Dan Chadwick Campus also benefits from a lower student-to-teacher ratio (11.3:1 vs. 14.8:1), which may support its higher engagement and perfect graduation rate. Overall, parents in this zip code face a clear choice between a high-performing charter school and a struggling traditional public school.
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