Best Public Schools in Zip Code 75702

The 12 schools in zip code 75702, primarily part of the Tyler Independent School District (Isd), serve a high-poverty area with an average free/reduced lunch rate of 87.8%, and academic performance is deeply tied to this socioeconomic challenge.

The standout school is Caldwell Arts Academy, ranked in the 84th percentile statewide with a lower poverty rate of 49.84%, far outperforming its peers in every subject. In contrast, T J Austin Elementary and Orr Elementary are ranked in the bottom 6th percentile, with poverty rates above 90% and critically low test scores. At the high school level, Tyler High School boasts a 96.9% graduation rate despite a 20th percentile ranking, while the charter Premier H S Of Tyler has a 50% graduation rate and ranks in the 4th percentile. Notably, Boulter Middle shows an "Algebra I paradox," where advanced students score 82.35% proficient on the EOC exam, far exceeding district and state averages, even as the school struggles overall.

Spending does not correlate with success: T J Austin Elementary has the highest per-student spending at $11,801 but is the lowest-ranked, while Caldwell Arts Academy spends a modest $9,243. The Premier High Schools charter network's school underperforms the traditional district high school on all metrics. For parents, the data shows that while most schools face significant challenges, Caldwell Arts Academy is a clear bright spot, and the area's academic struggles are overwhelmingly linked to high poverty rates rather than school spending or type.