Best Schools in Palestine, Texas
11 schools · 5 Elementary · 3 Middle · 2 High · 1 Other
Choosing a school in Palestine?
Use this page to compare every school in Palestine 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.
Palestine J H
Middle · Palestine ISD. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Palestine H S
High · Palestine ISD. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Southside EL
Elementary · Palestine ISD. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Palestine for 2026 are Palestine J H (8.0/10), Palestine H S (7.9/10), and Southside EL (7.0/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 8 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
11
10 public · 1 private
Avg Score
5.9
out of 10
Median Home
$180,450
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Schools
11
10 public · 1 private
Avg Score
5.9
out of 10
Median Home
$180,450
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Top-Rated Schools in Palestine
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (8 of 11). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Palestine J H | 8.0 / 10 |
| 2 | Palestine H S | 7.9 / 10 |
| 3 | Southside EL | 7.0 / 10 |
| 4 | Story Int | 6.0 / 10 |
| 5 | Christian Heritage Academy | 6.0 / 10 |
| 6 | Westwood EL | 5.4 / 10 |
| 7 | Westwood H S | 5.2 / 10 |
| 8 | Westwood J H | 4.1 / 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
- 5.9/10
- Median household income
- $56,716
- Median home value
- $180,450
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 16%
- Avg commute
- 23 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 66%
27% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Palestine compares
Texas rank
#450 of 654
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.3
below Texas avg (6.3)
Median household income
$57k
76% of Texas median
Schools in this city
11
About Schools in Palestine, Texas
Palestine, Texas offers parents a compact public school landscape of 10 ranked schools spanning elementary through high school, with an average score of 6.5 out of 10. That average sits in the middle tier, but the distribution matters: only 2 of the 10 schools — just 20% — score 7 or above, so strong options are available but concentrated rather than widespread.
The city's standout performers are both at the middle school level. Palestine Junior High and Westwood Junior High share the top score of 8.6 out of 10, making them the highest-rated schools in Palestine and clear strengths in the local system. Parents with children approaching those grades have two genuinely competitive options. Story Intermediate also lands in middle-school territory with a 6.9, giving the city three middle-level campuses in the top five — a notable cluster at that grade band.
The high school tier tells a different story. Palestine High School scores 6.8, functional but below the middle school peaks. Parents whose children have thrived at the 8.6-rated junior highs should weigh that transition carefully. On the elementary side, Westwood Elementary leads at 6.6, which is close to the city average — meaning families building a long-term school plan in Palestine are likely looking at a mixed journey, with the strongest academic environment arriving around grades six through eight.
Practically speaking, parents researching Palestine should prioritize feeder patterns. If you can position a child to move from a strong elementary into one of the two top-rated junior highs, you maximize years in above-average campuses. The Westwood zone is worth examining closely — Westwood Elementary and Westwood Junior High together suggest a coherent corridor with consistent performance across grade bands. Families who place high weight on secondary academics may also want to compare Palestine High School against district transfer options or nearby schools before settling on a long-term address. With 80% of ranked schools scoring below 7, Palestine rewards deliberate planning over assuming neighborhood assignment will land a child in the strongest available campus.
Elementary Schools
5 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 460 students · 2nd–3rd | 7.0 | ||
| 2 | 441 students · Kindergarten–1st | 6.1 | ||
| 3 | 384 students · Pre-K–2nd | 5.6 | ||
| 4 | 375 students · 3rd–6th | 5.4 | ||
| Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Christian Heritage Academy
Private
81 students · Kindergarten–8th | 6.0 | ||
Middle Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 440 students · 7th–8th | 8.0 |
| 2 | 673 students · 4th–6th | 6.0 |
| 3 | 202 students · 7th–8th | 4.1 |
High Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,016 students · 9th–12th | 7.9 |
| 2 | 404 students · 9th–12th | 5.2 |
Other Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 217 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 4.1 |
Schools in Palestine
Palestine, Texas · 11 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 2 ZIP codes
Median Income
$56,716
Median Home Value
$180,450
Median Rent
$1,055/mo
Population
38,281
College Educated
16%
Homeownership
66%
Avg Commute
23 min
Poverty Rate
16.9%
Community Profile
Palestine has a median household income of $56,716. It is a community where 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $180,450, with a median rent of $1,055/month. The area has a poverty rate of 16.9%. The average commute for residents is 23 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Texas
- Elementary
- 5
- Middle
- 3
- High
- 2
- Other
- 1
Resources
School Districts (2)
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 Palestine, Texas
How many schools are in Palestine, Texas?
Palestine has 11 schools, including 10 public and 1 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Palestine, Texas?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Palestine is 5.9 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 Palestine, Texas?
The top-ranked school in Palestine on MySchoolScout is Palestine J H with a composite score of 8.0/10.
What is the best elementary school in Palestine, Texas?
The top-ranked elementary school in Palestine on MySchoolScout is Southside EL with a composite score of 7.0/10.
What is the best middle school in Palestine, Texas?
The top-ranked middle school in Palestine on MySchoolScout is Palestine J H with a composite score of 8.0/10.
What is the best high school in Palestine, Texas?
The top-ranked high school in Palestine on MySchoolScout is Palestine H S with a composite score of 7.9/10.
How many school districts serve Palestine, Texas?
Palestine is served by 2 school districts: Palestine ISD, Westwood ISD.
What is the education level in Palestine, Texas?
According to Census data, 16% of adults in Palestine have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Palestine, Texas?
The median household income in Palestine is approximately $56,716 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Palestine, Texas?
Yes, Palestine has 1 private school alongside 10 public schools. The top-rated private school is Christian Heritage Academy with a score of 6.0/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Palestine, Texas?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Palestine is 13.7:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Palestine, 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.