Summary:
The 11 schools in Odessa, Texas (zip code 79763) serve students from elementary through high school, primarily within the Ector County Independent School District (Isd), and are characterized by high levels of economic disadvantage, with an average free/reduced lunch rate of 82.4%.
The standout performer in this area is Cameron Dual Language Magnet, the only school to earn a 3-star rating for three consecutive years and ranking in the 51st percentile statewide, despite a 75.62% free/reduced lunch rate. In contrast, Richard Milburn Academy Odessa is in crisis, with a 17% graduation rate, an 18.9% dropout rate, and a 50.6:1 student-teacher ratio, ranking in the 1st percentile. Among elementary schools, San Jacinto Elementary shows strong English-language test scores, while Lauro Cavazos Elementary is the lowest-performing, with 5th-grade science proficiency at just 5.49%. For middle schools, Ector College Prep Success Academy and Crockett Middle both show an "Algebra I anomaly," with 95.7% and 85.23% proficiency in that advanced exam, even as Crockett struggles with only 1.37% of 7th graders proficient in general math.
A key takeaway is that spending per student does not correlate with performance; El Magnet At Zavala spends the most ($11,063) but ranks in the 13th percentile, while Cameron Dual Language Magnet spends less ($9,299) and ranks highest. Science is a universal weakness across elementary schools, with 5th-grade STAAR proficiency rates often below 10%. Additionally, bilingual programs appear to be a strength, as Spanish-language test scores at schools like Pease Elementary and San Jacinto often exceed state averages. Odessa High School, with 3,814 students and a 79% graduation rate, represents a large, struggling comprehensive high school, while Richard Milburn Academy, with 350 students, is a small, failing alternative school, highlighting vastly different challenges within the same zip code.
Thank you for your feedback!