Summary:
Zip code 79603 in Abilene, TX, is home to two high schools serving grades 6-12, offering a stark contrast between a large traditional comprehensive school and a small alternative placement center, both part of the Abilene Independent School District (Isd).
Abilene High School is the primary educational institution in the area, enrolling 1,798 students in grades 9-12. It consistently scores below state averages on STAAR End-of-Course exams, with Algebra I being a notable weakness at 40.62% proficiency. However, U.S. History is a bright spot, exceeding both district and state averages at 74.17% proficiency. The school has a graduation rate of 91.1%, though its dropout rate of 2.4% is more than double the district average. In contrast, Taylor County Learning Center serves only 26 students as an alternative/discipline school, reporting 0% proficiency on its only test (English I Reading) but a 0.0% dropout rate, a positive indicator for its at-risk population.
Both schools serve high-poverty communities, with Abilene High at 63.29% free/reduced lunch and Taylor County Learning Center at 57.69%. The Learning Center spends significantly more per student ($14,622) compared to Abilene High ($9,566), reflecting the intensive resources needed for its specialized mission. The district itself ranks in the bottom 20% of Texas, providing important context for these schools' challenges. For parents, Abilene High offers a standard high school experience with areas needing improvement, while Taylor County Learning Center focuses on student retention and behavior management rather than high test scores.
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