Best Public Schools in Zip Code 78626

The 78626 zip code in Georgetown, Texas, is home to 13 diverse schools serving students from Pre-K through 12th grade, including five elementary schools, two middle schools, three high schools, and three alternative schools, with the majority belonging to the Georgetown Independent School District (Isd).

The standout academic performer in the area is Gateway College Preparatory School, an alternative K-12 charter school that consistently exceeds district and state averages in nearly every subject, boasts a perfect 100% graduation rate, and achieves these results with the lowest per-student spending ($6,474). Among traditional public high schools, Georgetown High School is the top performer, with a rising state ranking (73rd percentile), strong proficiency rates in Biology (82.2%) and English II (71.11%), and a 98.5% graduation rate. In contrast, East View High School shows a declining trend, with rankings dropping to the 39th percentile and test scores consistently below district and state averages. The middle schools, George Wagner Middle and Charles A Forbes Middle, face a significant challenge in mathematics, with proficiency rates often half the state average (e.g., 12.29% at Forbes vs. 38.57% state average for 6th grade Math). At the elementary level, Annie Purl Elementary is the most challenged school, with the lowest state ranking (12th percentile) and the highest percentage of students receiving free/reduced lunch (72.03%).

A key takeaway is the wide variance in performance and resources across the zip code. The term "alternative school" covers a broad spectrum, from the high-achieving Gateway College Prep to the highly intensive Georgetown Alter Prog, which spends $67,738 per student for a 3.5:1 student-teacher ratio, and the Georgetown Behavioral Health Institute, which has a 0% graduation rate. The data also shows that higher spending does not guarantee better outcomes, as Annie Purl Elementary spends $12,520 per student but achieves the lowest results, while Gateway College Prep excels with minimal spending. Overall, families should note the strong performance of Georgetown High School and Gateway College Prep, but be aware of the math challenges in middle schools and the declining trajectory at East View High School.