Summary:
There are two elementary schools serving grades PK-5 in zip code 76704 in Waco, Texas, an area where both schools serve a high-needs population with significant academic challenges compared to state averages.
For parents comparing schools, Audre And Bernard Rapoport Academy (part of the Rapoport Academy Public School district) stands out as the higher-performing option in the area. It ranks in the 5th percentile statewide and shows a positive upward trend in its ranking over recent years. This school also operates more efficiently, spending $11,877 per student with a favorable student-to-teacher ratio of 12.3:1. In contrast, J H Hines Elementary (part of the Waco Independent School District (Isd)) faces more severe challenges, ranking in the 0th percentile statewide with a volatile and declining performance trend. Despite spending $2,036 more per student ($13,913), J H Hines achieves lower academic results and has a much higher student-to-teacher ratio of 19.4:1.
The most critical finding is the severe academic crisis at J H Hines Elementary, where only 1.92% of 3rd graders were proficient in Math in the 2025-2026 school year—a staggering 42 percentage points below the state average. This foundational deficit will impact all future learning. Meanwhile, Rapoport Academy shows a glimmer of hope with its upward trajectory and stronger 4th grade Math proficiency rate of 37.31%. The data reveals a "resource paradox" where higher spending at J H Hines does not translate into better outcomes, suggesting that factors like class size and school-level strategies may be more impactful than spending alone in this high-poverty area.
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