Summary:
Zip code 75961, covering parts of Nacogdoches and Martinsville, Texas, is home to six schools—four elementary schools, one middle school, and one alternative PK-12 school—with no traditional high school, and is dominated by the low-performing Nacogdoches Independent School District (Isd).
The standout performer in this area is Martinsville School, an alternative school from the smaller Martinsville Independent School District (Isd). It consistently exceeds state averages in subjects like 8th Grade Reading (63.64% vs. 58.69% state) and Biology (89.47% vs. 70.51% state), boasts a high 93.8% graduation rate, and has the lowest student-to-teacher ratio (9.9:1) and economic disadvantage rate (56.55% free/reduced lunch) in the zip code. In stark contrast, Emeline Carpenter Elementary is the lowest-performing school, ranking in the 0th percentile statewide with critically low proficiency rates—only 3.92% of 3rd graders proficient in Math—despite having the highest per-student spending ($13,320). This highlights that spending does not guarantee success, as Thomas J Rusk Elementary spends the least ($10,203) but performs better, ranking in the 44th percentile.
Across the Nacogdoches ISD schools, economic disadvantage is severe, averaging 79.5% free/reduced lunch, with Mike Moses Elementary at 94.04%. A notable anomaly is McMichael Middle, which struggles in standard math (7th Grade Math at 7.57% vs. 29.41% state) but achieves an extraordinary 95% pass rate in Algebra I, far exceeding the state average of 54.03%. This suggests a highly effective advanced program, but it does not translate to overall math success. For parents, Martinsville School is the clear top choice, while Emeline Carpenter Elementary and Mike Moses Elementary face profound challenges that require careful consideration.
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