Best Public Schools in Zip Code 78861

The four public schools in zip code 78861, serving the community of Hondo, Texas, are part of the Hondo Independent School District (Isd), which ranks in the 26th percentile statewide and serves approximately 1,727 students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, with a notable characteristic being high levels of economic disadvantage across all campuses.

Hondo High School stands out as the district's strongest performer, earning a 3-star rating and exceeding state averages in English I and II Reading, as well as U.S. History, while maintaining a strong 94.5% graduation rate. In contrast, Newell E Woolls Intermediate faces the most significant challenges, with the highest poverty rate (78.1%) and the lowest state ranking (15th percentile), scoring well below state averages in all subjects. McDowell Middle presents a fascinating paradox: while its standard grade-level math proficiency rates are low (19-47%), it achieves a remarkable 96%+ proficiency rate in Algebra I, suggesting a highly effective advanced math program for a select group of students. Meyer Elementary serves grades PK-2 and has no test score data available, making it a "black box" in terms of academic performance.

A key finding is the inverse relationship between spending and need: the school with the highest poverty rate, Newell E Woolls Intermediate, receives the second-lowest spending per student ($9,245), while the school with the lowest poverty rate, Hondo High School, receives the highest ($10,905). Additionally, the data reveals a clear academic decline after elementary years, with the intermediate school showing the most severe struggles, but a significant recovery in reading at the high school level, where scores actually surpass state averages. This pattern suggests that while the intermediate years are a critical point of failure, the high school has found effective strategies to help students catch up, particularly in reading.