Summary:
In zip code 79721, there is one school, Big Spring J H, a junior high serving grades 7 and 8 with 490 students in the Big Spring Independent School District (Isd), an area where 70.2% of students are economically disadvantaged.
Big Spring J H presents a mixed picture. The school has a standout Algebra I program, with 95.65% of students proficient in the 2025-2026 school year, far exceeding the state average of 54.03%. However, overall performance in core subjects like reading, math, and social studies is well below state averages, leading to a consistent 1-star state ranking in the 15th to 30th percentile. For example, only 13.99% of 7th graders and 38.38% of 8th graders are proficient in grade-level math, compared to state averages of 29.41% and 47.24%. This suggests that the high Algebra I scores likely come from a small, advanced group of students, while most students struggle in standard classes.
On a positive note, the school maintains a low dropout rate of 0.4%, significantly lower than the district's 1.6%, and has a favorable student-teacher ratio of 11.3, indicating smaller class sizes. Per-student spending is $10,829, showing strong resource allocation. Despite high economic need, the school keeps students enrolled, but these resources have not yet translated into above-average test scores in most subjects, pointing to a need for improved instructional strategies. There is a small positive trend in 8th grade reading, improving from 43.67% to 46.63% proficiency.
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