Best Public Schools in Zip Code 76054

Zip code 76054 in Hurst, Texas, is home to two distinct high schools serving grades 9 through 12, offering families a clear choice between a large, traditional comprehensive experience and a smaller, academically rigorous early college program. Bell High School, part of the Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District (Isd), is a large school with over 2,400 students that has shown a dramatic turnaround, jumping from a 1-star rating in 2015-2016 to a consistent 4-star rating in recent years. In contrast, Grapevine-Colleyville Collegiate Academy At Tcc NE, part of the Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District (Isd), is a smaller, selective academy with 358 students that consistently earns top academic ratings and boasts a near-perfect 98.9% graduation rate.

When comparing the two schools, the Collegiate Academy stands out for its exceptional test scores, with 80% proficiency in Algebra I and 87.5% in Biology, far exceeding state averages and Bell High School's scores in those subjects. However, Bell High School excels in U.S. History (78.5% proficiency) and English II Reading (75.7%), outperforming the Collegiate Academy in those areas. Bell High School also serves a more economically diverse student body, with over 50% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, and spends more per student ($8,623) with a lower student-to-teacher ratio (16.8) compared to the Collegiate Academy ($5,895 and 25.5, respectively).

A key takeaway is the "Algebra I bottleneck" at Bell High School, where a 0% proficiency rate for two consecutive years is a significant red flag, especially given its strong graduation rate and performance in other subjects. Meanwhile, the Collegiate Academy shows a relative weakness in U.S. History (60% proficiency), which falls below both its district and state averages. Overall, families in this zip code have a unique choice: Bell High School offers a comprehensive, improving experience with strong extracurriculars and a diverse population, while the Collegiate Academy provides a focused, college-prep track with outstanding math and science outcomes.