Summary:
Zip code 76255 in Nocona, Texas, is home to four schools across two districts—Nocona Independent School District (Isd) and Prairie Valley Independent School District (Isd)—serving approximately 920 students from elementary through high school, with a significant portion of the student body qualifying for free or reduced lunch.
The standout school in the area is Prairie Valley School, an alternative school that defies expectations by achieving a 100% graduation rate and a 0% dropout rate. It consistently outperforms both Nocona High School and state averages on STAAR exams, including in Algebra I, Biology, and 8th-grade Reading. This success is likely tied to its low student-teacher ratio of 9.2:1 and efficient spending of $12,008 per student. In contrast, Nocona Elementary shines in early-grade math, with 4th-grade proficiency at 63.64% versus the state's 49.28%, but its reading scores lag behind. Nocona Middle shows a stark split: strong 8th-grade math and science performance, yet critically low 6th-grade math proficiency at just 24.56%, highlighting a "middle school slump" that needs attention.
Key metrics reveal that spending does not guarantee results—Nocona High School spends the most per student ($12,838) but doesn't lead in test scores, while Prairie Valley achieves more with less. Nocona Middle has the highest economic disadvantage rate at 70.45%, yet its 8th-grade reading (63.27%) outpaces the state (58.69%). Overall, families in 76255 have a clear choice: Prairie Valley offers a small, high-performing environment, while Nocona ISD provides strong elementary math but struggles with middle school transitions and inconsistent high school outcomes.
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