Summary:
Zip code 77414, serving the Altair, TX area, is home to two public schools within the Rice Consolidated Independent School District, which serves grades 6 through 12 and faces significant academic challenges, ranking in the 16th percentile statewide.
Rice High School (grades 9-12, 348 students) excels at keeping students in school, boasting a 98.7% graduation rate and a 0.0% dropout rate despite 70.4% of students being economically disadvantaged. However, its academic proficiency is low, with its strongest subject being U.S. History (51.47% proficient) and its weakest being Algebra I (13.25% proficient). In contrast, Rice Junior High (grades 6-8, 282 students) presents a stark paradox: it achieves exceptional results in advanced Algebra I (96.15% proficient) but critically low scores in general math, such as only 6.35% proficiency in 7th-grade math. This suggests a highly effective advanced math track that may be leaving the majority of students behind, an equity concern given that 76.6% of its students are economically disadvantaged.
Both schools rank in the 16th percentile statewide, indicating systemic challenges. A notable finding is the 27% spending disparity within the district, with Rice High School receiving $13,300 per student compared to Rice Junior High's $10,456. Given the junior high's severe math struggles, this funding gap warrants attention. Overall, while Rice High School demonstrates strong student retention and humanities performance, and Rice Junior High shows promise in advanced math, both schools face significant hurdles in raising overall academic achievement to state standards.
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