Waco Independent School District

501 Franklin Ave
Waco, TX 76701-0027
(District boundaries shown in map)
1/
10
Bottom 50%

Top Rankings

Waco Independent School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Texas for:

Category
Attribute
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2026 school year, there are 7 public middle schools serving 3,367 students in Waco Independent School District. This district's average middle testing ranking is 1/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public middle schools in Texas.
Public Middle Schools in Waco Independent School District have an average math proficiency score of 25% (versus the Texas public middle school average of 43%), and reading proficiency score of 36% (versus the 52% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 91% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the Texas public middle school average of 75% (majority Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (TX)
# Schools
23 Schools
2,691 Schools
# Students
13,376 Students
1,452,681 Students
# Teachers
922 Teachers
97,258 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
14:1
14:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Waco Independent School District, which is ranked #1094 of all 1,194 school districts in Texas (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 81% has increased from 75% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (TX)
#1117 out of 1202 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
24%
44%
31%
51%
23%
46%
81%
90%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.54
0.64
% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
n/a
6%
% Hispanic
62%
54%
% Black
27%
12%
% White
8%
25%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
3%
3%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $15,430 is higher than the state median of $13,352. The school district revenue/student has grown by 17% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $14,596 is higher than the state median of $14,079. The school district spending/student has grown by 18% over four school years.
This School District
This State (TX)
Total Revenue
$206 MM
$74,029 MM
Spending
$195 MM
$78,063 MM
Revenue / Student
$15,430
$13,352
Spending / Student
$14,596
$14,079

Best Waco Independent School District Public Middle Schools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Lake Air Montessori School
Magnet School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
4601 Cobbs Dr
Waco, TX 76710
(254) 772-1910
Gr: PK-8 | 734 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 84%
Rank: #22.
Bill Logue Detention Center
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
2601 Gholson Rd
Waco, TX 76704
(254) 754-0803
Gr: 7-11 | 11 students
Rank: #33.
Tennyson Middle School
(Math: 29% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
6001 Sanger Ave
Waco, TX 76710
(254) 772-1440
Gr: 6-8 | 963 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 89%
Rank: #44.
Cesar Chavez Middle School
(Math: 19% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
700 S 15th St
Waco, TX 76706
(254) 750-3736
Gr: 6-8 | 786 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
Rank: #55.
Challenge Academy
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
2015 Alexander Ave
Waco, TX 76708
(254) 754-0803
Gr: 7-12 | 52 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 94%
Rank: #66.
G W Carver Middle School
Charter School
(Math: 13% | Reading: 27%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
1601 J J Flewellen Rd
Waco, TX 76704
(254) 754-5491
Gr: 6-8 | 723 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
Rank: #77.
G L Wiley Opportunity Center
Alternative School
(Math: ≤5% | Reading: 10-14%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
1030 E Live Oak St
Waco, TX 76704
(254) 757-3829
Gr: 2-12 | 98 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 95%

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Quick Facts (2026)

  • District size: 23 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 13,376 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 14:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 92%
  • : 81% (Top 50% in TX)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 24% (Btm 50%)
  • : 31% (Btm 50%)
  • : 23% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), TX Dept. of Education

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