Summary:
Zip code 77808 is home to a single high school, James Earl Rudder High School, which serves grades 9 through 12 with a substantial enrollment of 1,697 students as part of the Bryan Independent School District (Isd).
James Earl Rudder High School presents a striking paradox for parents to consider. On one hand, the school boasts an exceptionally high graduation rate of 98.0% for the 2023-2024 school year, significantly outpacing the district average of 90.1%, and a low dropout rate of 1.1%. On the other hand, its academic proficiency on state STAAR exams is a major concern. For the 2025-2026 school year, proficiency rates in core subjects like Algebra I (19.62%) and English I (35.56%) are well below both the district and state averages. The school’s state ranking reflects this challenge, placing it in the bottom quintile (19th percentile) with a 1-star rating. It is also important to note that over 81% of the student body qualifies for free or reduced lunch, indicating a high level of economic disadvantage.
Despite the low scores, there is a clear positive trend. From the 2024-2025 to the 2025-2026 school year, proficiency rates improved in every tested subject, with gains ranging from nearly 5 to over 10 percentage points. This suggests that academic interventions may be gaining traction. For parents, the key takeaway is that James Earl Rudder High School appears highly effective at ensuring students graduate, but it faces significant challenges in bringing a large, economically disadvantaged student body to grade-level academic mastery. The school’s strong focus on retention and its recent upward test score trend are positive signs, but the current academic performance remains a critical area for improvement.
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