Summary:
Zip code 76302 in Wichita Falls, Texas, is home to four schools serving approximately 2,819 students, including two elementary schools, one high school, and one alternative school, all within a district ranked in the 35th percentile statewide.
The standout school in the area is Fain Elementary, which shows a clear upward trend in its state ranking, moving from the 13th to the 33rd percentile and outperforming the Wichita Falls Independent School District (ISD) average in 3rd Grade Reading (54.1% vs. 44.16%). In contrast, Southern Hills Elementary is struggling significantly, ranking in the bottom 6% of Texas schools despite spending $2,039 more per student ($12,503 vs. $10,464) and having a slightly lower student-teacher ratio (16.8 vs. 18.0). Both elementary schools share a critical weakness in 5th Grade Science, with only 9.2% proficiency at Southern Hills and 16.67% at Fain, far below the state average of 29.57%. Legacy High School, the largest school with 1,857 students, is a middle-of-the-pack school with a concerning downward trend, consistently scoring below district and state averages in Algebra I, Biology, and English. Paint Rock Frontier Academy, part of the Paint Rock Independent School District (ISD), is a unique alternative school with only 11 students and a very low student-teacher ratio of 8.4, serving a high-need population with 0% proficiency in Algebra I and Biology, making it incomparable to traditional schools.
Overall, the data reveals a tale of two elementary schools with opposite trajectories, a high school in decline, and an alternative school operating as a separate ecosystem. The high economic disadvantage across the area (65-83% free/reduced lunch eligibility) and the critical "Science gap" at the elementary level are key challenges. Parents should note that Fain Elementary is the only school showing improvement, while Southern Hills and Legacy High require closer scrutiny for their performance trends.
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