Summary:
Zip code 77406 in Richmond, Texas, is home to two large, high-performing public high schools—William B Travis High School and Foster High School—serving grades 9 through 12 with a combined enrollment of over 5,800 students, offering families a strong choice between two distinct educational environments.
Both schools significantly outperform the Texas state average across all core subjects, but they excel in different areas. William B Travis High School, part of the Fort Bend Independent School District (Isd), boasts a higher graduation rate (97.4% vs. 95.7%) and a lower student-to-teacher ratio (18.7:1 vs. 21.8:1), suggesting a more personalized, supportive atmosphere. It also leads in Algebra I and English I Reading proficiency. In contrast, Foster High School, under the Lamar Consolidated Independent School District, holds a slightly higher state ranking (85th percentile vs. 84th percentile) and a lower dropout rate (0.5% vs. 0.8%), with stronger scores in Biology, English II Reading, and U.S. History. Notably, Foster spends $805 more per student, yet Travis achieves a higher graduation rate, showing that spending alone doesn't determine success.
A key finding is the extreme year-over-year volatility in Algebra I scores: Travis saw an 18-point jump in proficiency (from 37.43% to 55.64%), while Foster experienced a 19.5-point drop (from 72.99% to 53.44%). This anomaly may stem from changes in testing cohorts or curriculum, and it highlights the importance of looking beyond single-year data. Overall, both schools provide excellent education options, and a family's choice may hinge on whether they prioritize a more personalized environment (Travis) or a slightly higher-ranked, competitive edge (Foster).
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