Summary:
Zip code 78140, serving the Nixon area, contains two public schools—Nixon-Smiley High School (grades 9-12, 295 students) and Nixon-Smiley Middle (grades 5-8, 280 students)—both part of the Nixon-Smiley Consolidated Independent School District, which holds a 2-star rating and serves a predominantly low-income community where about 77% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.
Nixon-Smiley Middle stands out as the stronger school, showing recent improvement from a 2-star to a 3-star rating. It excels in reading, with 8th-grade proficiency at 70% (above the state’s 58.69%), and its advanced math students shine—84.21% of those taking Algebra I passed, far exceeding the state average of 47.01%. However, the middle school struggles with standard math, especially in 7th grade where only 5.66% of students are proficient. In contrast, Nixon-Smiley High School has declined to a 1-star rating, with severe weaknesses in Algebra I (just 15.15% proficient versus 54.03% statewide) and most other subjects. Despite this, the high school boasts a 98.3% graduation rate and a 0% dropout rate, creating a paradox where students stay in school but often lack core academic mastery.
Key metrics reveal a district investing heavily—per-student spending ranges from $14,284 to $15,785, and student-teacher ratios are low (11.2:1 at the high school, 9.4:1 at the middle school). Yet these resources haven’t translated into strong math outcomes, suggesting a need for curriculum and instructional changes starting in middle school. For parents, the middle school offers bright spots in reading and advanced math, while the high school provides a supportive environment for graduation but may require extra academic support, particularly in mathematics, to ensure college and career readiness.
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