Summary:
Zip code 76067, serving the Mineral Wells area, contains two high schools within the Mineral Wells Independent School District (Isd): the comprehensive Mineral Wells High School and the much smaller alternative program, Mineral Wells Academy.
Mineral Wells High School is the district's primary high school, serving grades 9-12 with a large enrollment of 3,275 students. It stands out for its strong graduation rate of 96.5% and an extremely low dropout rate of 0.1%, significantly outperforming the district averages. However, its academic proficiency rates on STAAR and EOC assessments consistently fall below state averages, with a notable bright spot in Biology (69.89% proficient, close to the state's 70.51%). In contrast, Mineral Wells Academy serves only 28 students in grades 10-12 and faces severe academic challenges, recording 0% proficiency in Algebra I, English II Reading, and U.S. History, and ranking in the 1st percentile statewide. Its dropout rate of 1.7% is 17 times higher than the comprehensive high school's rate, reflecting its role as a last-resort option for at-risk students.
Both schools serve a highly economically disadvantaged population, with 73-75% of students eligible for free or reduced lunch. A key takeaway is the stark contrast in outcomes despite similar demographics, highlighting the different missions of the two campuses. The district spends $1,300 more per student at the comprehensive high school ($12,744) than at the alternative academy ($11,444), raising questions about resource allocation. An interesting anomaly is that 3rd graders at Mineral Wells High School taking the STAAR Spanish Reading test scored 66.67% proficient—more than double the state average—suggesting an effective bilingual program, though this success does not persist into 4th grade.
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