Summary:
The 78209 zip code in San Antonio is home to 10 schools serving elementary through high school grades, spread across four distinct districts that create a landscape of stark educational contrasts within a small geographic area.
The standout performer is Alamo Heights High School, part of the top-rated Alamo Heights Independent School District (Isd), which boasts a 94.8% graduation rate and test scores well above state averages in subjects like Biology (85.47% proficient) and U.S. History (86.78%). Its feeder schools—Woodridge Elementary, Cambridge Elementary, Howard Elementary, and Alamo Heights J H—also consistently rank in high percentiles, with low free/reduced lunch rates (12-28%) and strong academic outcomes. In stark contrast, Garner Middle in the North East Independent School District (Isd) struggles significantly, with 7th-grade math proficiency at just 11.64% and a high poverty rate of 82.23%. The Southwest Preparatory School district's Northeast Campus and Northeast Elementary Campus are the lowest-ranked schools overall, despite having the highest per-student spending ($17,048 and $14,827) and smallest class sizes, revealing that money alone doesn't guarantee success. Celebrate Dyslexia School serves a specialized mission for students with dyslexia, where low test scores reflect the challenges of its student body rather than school failure.
A key takeaway is the extreme inequality within this single zip code: a child could attend a top-tier Alamo Heights school or a struggling Southwest Preparatory school based on district boundaries. At Alamo Heights J H, advanced math tracking creates a paradox—low 7th-grade math scores (18.94%) but exceptional Algebra I results (87.84%) for accelerated students. Northwood Elementary shows a concerning ranking decline from the 82nd to 67th percentile, though a 100% 6th-grade math proficiency rate suggests a small, high-performing group. Overall, parents should prioritize district choice, as Alamo Heights ISD offers consistent excellence while other schools face deep challenges tied to poverty and resource effectiveness.
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