Summary:
Zip code 77355 in Magnolia, Texas, is home to two high schools within the Magnolia Independent School District (Isd), serving grades 9-12 with a stark contrast in size and performance.
Magnolia West High School is the standout performer, enrolling 2,356 students and earning a 4-star rating by ranking in the 71st percentile of Texas high schools. It boasts a 95.4% graduation rate and a very low 0.9% dropout rate, significantly outperforming the district averages. Academically, Magnolia West excels, with 83.54% proficiency in Biology and 74.95% in U.S. History, both well above state averages. The school has shown strong improvement, particularly in Algebra I, where proficiency jumped from 30% to 55.7% in one year. In contrast, Stephens Academy is a small alternative school with only 65 students, ranking in the bottom 7th percentile with a 0-star rating. It struggles with a 76.9% graduation rate and an alarming 13.3% dropout rate, over 12 times the district average. Despite spending $18,173 per student—nearly double Magnolia West's $9,526—Stephens Academy achieves very low proficiency rates, such as 6.25% in Algebra I and 15.38% in English I Reading.
The key takeaway is a profound educational divide within the same district. Magnolia West drives the district's high overall ranking (81st percentile) with its strong academics and low dropout rates, while Stephens Academy appears to serve a high-needs population requiring intensive resources, as indicated by its 60% free/reduced lunch rate and favorable 8.4:1 student-teacher ratio. For parents, Magnolia West offers a proven track record of success and continuous improvement, while Stephens Academy represents a specialized environment for students who may need alternative educational support, though its outcomes are significantly lower. The district's overall strength is largely due to Magnolia West's performance.
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