Best Schools in Nacogdoches, Texas
15 schools · 8 Elementary · 2 Middle · 3 High · 2 Other
Choosing a school in Nacogdoches?
Use this page to compare every school in Nacogdoches by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Central Heights H S
High · Central Heights ISD. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Central Heights Middle
Middle · Central Heights ISD. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Stephen F Austin State University Charter School
Elementary · Stephen F Austin State University Charter School. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Nacogdoches for 2026 are Central Heights H S (9.2/10), Central Heights Middle (9.1/10), and Stephen F Austin State University Charter School (8.8/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 14 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
15
13 public · 2 private
Avg Score
6.3
out of 10
Median Home
$178,900
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Schools
15
13 public · 2 private
Avg Score
6.3
out of 10
Median Home
$178,900
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Rates 7.9/10 despite 89% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.4 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Nacogdoches schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +3.9 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Nacogdoches schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Nacogdoches
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (14 of 15). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Central Heights H S | 9.2 / 10 |
| 2 | Central Heights Middle | 9.1 / 10 |
| 3 | Stephen F Austin State University Charter School | 8.8 / 10 |
| 4 | Central Heights EL | 8.8 / 10 |
| 5 | Thomas J Rusk EL | 7.9 / 10 |
| 6 | Raguet EL | 6.5 / 10 |
| 7 | Margie Chumbley Academy for Success | 6.2 / 10 |
| 8 | Christ Episcopal School | 5.9 / 10 |
| 9 | Regents Academy | 5.3 / 10 |
| 10 | Mcmichael Middle | 4.8 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 6.3/10
- Median household income
- $46,385
- Median home value
- $178,900
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 21%
- Avg commute
- 19 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 49%
33% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Nacogdoches compares
Texas rank
#364 of 654
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.0
above Texas avg (6.3)
Median household income
$46k
62% of Texas median
Schools in this city
15
About Schools in Nacogdoches, Texas
Nacogdoches, Texas has 13 ranked public schools averaging 6.9 out of 10 — a solid baseline for a mid-size East Texas city. Nearly half of those schools, 6 of 13, score 7 or above, meaning a meaningful share of the landscape clears a real performance threshold. The spread matters: scores range from the mid-4s to a near-perfect 9.7, so school selection within city limits makes a genuine difference for families.
The Central Heights district dominates the top tier. Central Heights Middle leads all 13 schools with a 9.7 — the highest score in the city and a significant outlier against the 6.9 average. Central Heights Elementary follows at 8.8, and Central Heights High School rounds out the trio at 8.6. That consistency across grade levels is rare. Families in the Central Heights zone get strong options from kindergarten through graduation without a drop-off at the secondary level.
Outside Central Heights, parents have credible choices. Stephen F. Austin State University Charter School scores 7.8, making it the strongest non-Central Heights elementary in the city. Thomas J. Rusk Elementary adds another 7.4-rated public option. Both schools give families outside the Central Heights boundary a workable alternative without a steep performance tradeoff.
The practical picture: if school rating drives the decision, the Central Heights zone is the clearest target. The middle school's 9.7 is the headline, but the feeder pattern holds across all three grade levels — there is no weak link in the pipeline. For parents zoned elsewhere, the SFASU Charter School and Rusk Elementary are the next-best bets on the elementary side. With a city average of 6.9 and 46% of schools above 7, Nacogdoches offers more above-average options than its size might suggest. That said, the gap between the top and bottom of the range is wide enough that zoning and individual school research are worth doing carefully before locking in a neighborhood.
Elementary Schools
8 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 254 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.8 | ||
| 2 | 482 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.8 | ||
| 3 | 466 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.9 | ||
| 4 | 444 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.5 | ||
| 5 | 357 students · Kindergarten–5th | 4.6 | ||
| 6 | 598 students · Kindergarten–5th | 4.5 | ||
| 7 | 506 students · Kindergarten–5th | 3.5 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Christ Episcopal SchoolPrivate 65 students · Pre-K–5th | Not Rated | ||
Middle Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 257 students · 6th–8th | 9.1 |
| 2 | 1,338 students · 6th–8th | 4.8 |
High Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 340 students · 9th–12th | 9.2 |
| 2 | 65 students · 9th–12th | 6.2 |
| 3 | 1,753 students · 9th–12th | 4.7 |
Other Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 336 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 4.7 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Regents AcademyPrivate 151 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
Schools in Nacogdoches
Nacogdoches, Texas · 15 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 3 ZIP codes
Median Income
$46,385
Median Home Value
$178,900
Median Rent
$937/mo
Population
36,430
College Educated
21%
Homeownership
49%
Avg Commute
19 min
Poverty Rate
24.8%
Community Profile
Nacogdoches has a median household income of $46,385. It is a community where 21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $178,900, with a median rent of $937/month. The area has a poverty rate of 24.8%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. Residents enjoy a short average commute of 19 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Texas
- Elementary
- 8
- Middle
- 2
- High
- 3
- Other
- 2
Resources
Nearby Cities
Other Major Cities in Texas
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Nacogdoches, Texas
How many schools are in Nacogdoches, Texas?
Nacogdoches has 15 schools, including 13 public and 2 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Nacogdoches, Texas?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Nacogdoches is 6.3 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Nacogdoches, Texas?
The top-ranked school in Nacogdoches on MySchoolScout is Central Heights H S with a composite score of 9.2/10.
What is the best elementary school in Nacogdoches, Texas?
The top-ranked elementary school in Nacogdoches on MySchoolScout is Stephen F Austin State University Charter School with a composite score of 8.8/10.
What is the best middle school in Nacogdoches, Texas?
The top-ranked middle school in Nacogdoches on MySchoolScout is Central Heights Middle with a composite score of 9.1/10.
What is the best high school in Nacogdoches, Texas?
The top-ranked high school in Nacogdoches on MySchoolScout is Central Heights H S with a composite score of 9.2/10.
How many school districts serve Nacogdoches, Texas?
Nacogdoches is served by 3 school districts: Stephen F Austin State University Charter School, Central Heights ISD, Nacogdoches ISD.
What is the education level in Nacogdoches, Texas?
According to Census data, 21% of adults in Nacogdoches have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Nacogdoches, Texas?
The median household income in Nacogdoches is approximately $46,385 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Nacogdoches, Texas?
Yes, Nacogdoches has 2 private schools alongside 13 public schools. The top-rated private school is Christ Episcopal School with a score of 5.9/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Nacogdoches, Texas?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Nacogdoches is 11.8:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Nacogdoches, Texas?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
Related reading
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Texas Education Agency, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.