Best Schools in Waco, Texas
61 schools · 30 Elementary · 7 Middle · 11 High · 13 Other
Choosing a school in Waco?
Use this page to compare every school in Waco 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.
Bosqueville H S
High · Bosqueville ISD. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
South Bosque EL
Elementary · Midway ISD. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Paul and Jane Meyer Public H S
High · Rapoport Academy Public School. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Waco for 2026 are Bosqueville H S (9.5/10), South Bosque EL (9.0/10), and Paul and Jane Meyer Public H S (8.6/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 50 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
61
52 public · 9 private
Avg Score
5.4
out of 10
Median Home
$187,100
home value · ACS
Districts
13
serving the city
Schools
61
52 public · 9 private
Avg Score
5.4
out of 10
Median Home
$187,100
home value · ACS
Districts
13
serving the city
Rates 8.6/10 despite 62% 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 Waco schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +8.8 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Waco schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Waco
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (50 of 61). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bosqueville H S | 9.5 / 10 |
| 2 | South Bosque EL | 9.0 / 10 |
| 3 | Paul and Jane Meyer Public H S | 8.6 / 10 |
| 4 | Midway H S | 8.3 / 10 |
| 5 | Woodway EL | 8.0 / 10 |
| 6 | Bosqueville Middle | 7.6 / 10 |
| 7 | Waco Montessori School | 7.4 / 10 |
| 8 | Live Oak Classical School | 7.3 / 10 |
| 9 | Bosqueville EL | 7.1 / 10 |
| 10 | St Pauls Episcopal Day School | 6.9 / 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
- 5.4/10
- Median household income
- $50,063
- Median home value
- $187,100
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 25%
- Avg commute
- 19 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 49%
18% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Waco compares
Texas rank
#553 of 654
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.9
below Texas avg (6.3)
Median household income
$50k
67% of Texas median
Schools in this city
55
Education Snapshot
Waco, TexasWaco covers 61 schools across 13 districts, serving approximately 27,144 students — a footprint that includes 9 charter schools among its traditional public campuses. Elementary schools lead the level mix at 30 campuses, well ahead of 11 high schools, 7 middle schools, and 13 other or combined programs. On MySchoolScout's composite rating, the city's 55 scored schools average 5.3/10, a full point below the Texas state average of 6.3/10 — placing Waco noticeably behind the statewide benchmark. The economic backdrop reinforces the picture: a median household income of $54,759 runs 31% below the Texas state median of $79,932. Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher make up 25% of the population. The rating gap versus state averages, combined with the economic indicators, gives parents a clear heads-up to evaluate individual campus scores rather than relying on the city-level mean.
About Schools in Waco, Texas
Waco's public school landscape spans 46 ranked schools with an average score of 6.1 out of 10 — a mid-range baseline that masks a wide performance spread. Twenty-two percent of schools, 10 in total, score 7.0 or higher, meaning strong options exist but require deliberate searching. Families willing to look beyond the most-recognized campuses will find a cluster of high performers concentrated in smaller, community-anchored districts on the city's outskirts.
The top of the rankings belongs to Bosqueville ISD. Bosqueville El leads all 46 schools with a 9.3, and Bosqueville H S scores 8.7 — making Bosqueville a rare district where both the elementary and high school land in the city's top tier. Speegleville El (8.8) sits just behind the leader, giving families a second strong elementary option outside the urban core. Hallsburg School rounds out the top elementary performers at 8.3. On the secondary side, Midway H S matches Bosqueville H S at 8.7 and 8.3 respectively, and Midway ISD is the largest district in this top cluster, offering a more complete K–12 pathway with consistent performance across grade levels.
For parents navigating Waco ISD specifically — the city's dominant district by enrollment — the picture is more uneven. Scores across Waco ISD campuses pull the city's 6.1 average down, and families should compare individual campus ratings rather than relying on the district's overall reputation. The data rewards campus-level research rather than district-level assumptions.
The practical takeaway: Waco has genuine standout schools, but they are not evenly distributed. The highest-rated campuses are disproportionately small, semi-rural schools just outside city limits. Families with address flexibility — or who are willing to pursue open enrollment where available — have real access to 9-range schools. Families anchored to central Waco should filter by individual campus score and cross-reference growth metrics, since a 6.1 city average means roughly half the schools score below that line. Start with the 10 schools above 7.0 and narrow from there based on grade level and proximity.
Elementary Schools
30 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 564 students · Pre-K–5th | 9.0 |
| 2 | 500 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.2 |
| 3 | 559 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.0 |
| 4 | 329 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.1 |
| 5 | 274 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten | 6.1 |
| 6 | 267 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.8 |
| 7 | 711 students · Pre-K–8th | 5.8 |
| 8 | 781 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.6 |
| 9 | 433 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.3 |
| 10 | 398 students · Pre-K–5th | 4.9 |
Show all 30 elementary schools in Waco
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
7 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 173 students · 6th–8th | 7.6 |
| 2 | 947 students · 6th–8th | 6.8 |
| 3 | 776 students · 6th–8th | 5.8 |
| 4 | 813 students · 6th–8th | 5.2 |
| 5 | 634 students · 4th–6th | 5.0 |
| 6 | 438 students · 7th–8th | 4.8 |
| 7 | 258 students · 5th–8th | 4.3 |
High Schools
11 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 221 students · 9th–12th | 9.5 |
| 2 | 227 students · 9th–12th | 8.6 |
| 3 | 2,730 students · 9th–12th | 8.3 |
| 4 | 1,750 students · 9th–12th | 5.6 |
| 5 | 30 students · 8th–12th | 5.5 |
| 6 | 621 students · 9th–12th | 4.9 |
| 7 | 1,778 students · 9th–12th | 4.9 |
| 8 | 90 students · 6th–12th | 4.8 |
| 9 | 877 students · 9th–12th | 4.8 |
| 10 | 100 students · 9th–12th | 4.0 |
Show all 11 high schools in Waco
Other Schools
13 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 269 students · Pre-K–12th | 6.2 | ||
| 2 | 77 students · 1st–12th | 5.5 | ||
| 3 | 3 students · 7th–11th | — | ||
| 4 | 7 students · 8th–11th | — | ||
| 5 | 1 students · 9th–9th | — | ||
| 6 | 2 students · 8th–10th | — | ||
| 7 | 3 students · 8th–10th | — | ||
| Private Schools 6 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Live Oak Classical School
Private
447 students · Pre-K–12th | 7.3 | ||
| 2 | Reicher Catholic High School
Private
316 students · Pre-K–12th | 6.7 | ||
| 3 | Eagle Christian Academy
Private
149 students · Pre-K–12th | 6.4 | ||
Show all 13 other schools in Waco
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Schools in Waco
Waco, Texas · 61 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 8 ZIP codes
Median Income
$50,063
Median Home Value
$187,100
Median Rent
$1,047/mo
Population
177,807
College Educated
25%
Homeownership
49%
Avg Commute
19 min
Poverty Rate
25.5%
Community Profile
Waco has a median household income of $50,063. It is an area where 25% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $187,100, with a median rent of $1,047/month. The area has a poverty rate of 25.5%, 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
- 30
- Middle
- 7
- High
- 11
- Other
- 13
School Districts (13)
RAPOPORT ACADEMY PUBLIC SCHOOL
3 schools · 884 students
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS UNIVERSITY CHARTER SCHOOL
18 schools · 509 students
HARMONY PUBLIC SCHOOLS - NORTH TEXAS
16 schools · 10,272 students
BOSQUEVILLE ISD
3 schools · 723 students
CHINA SPRING ISD
7 schools · 3,037 students
CONNALLY ISD
6 schools · 2,289 students
GHOLSON ISD
2 schools · 270 students
HALLSBURG ISD
1 school · 145 students
LA VEGA ISD
5 schools · 3,120 students
LORENA ISD
5 schools · 1,858 students
MIDWAY ISD
11 schools · 8,849 students
ROBINSON ISD
6 schools · 2,413 students
WACO ISD
24 schools · 13,517 students
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 Waco, Texas
How many schools are in Waco, Texas?
Waco has 61 schools, including 52 public and 9 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Waco, Texas?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Waco is 5.4 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 Waco, Texas?
The top-ranked school in Waco on MySchoolScout is Bosqueville H S with a composite score of 9.5/10.
What is the best elementary school in Waco, Texas?
The top-ranked elementary school in Waco on MySchoolScout is South Bosque EL with a composite score of 9.0/10.
What is the best middle school in Waco, Texas?
The top-ranked middle school in Waco on MySchoolScout is Bosqueville Middle with a composite score of 7.6/10.
What is the best high school in Waco, Texas?
The top-ranked high school in Waco on MySchoolScout is Bosqueville H S with a composite score of 9.5/10.
How many school districts serve Waco, Texas?
Waco is served by 13 school districts: Rapoport Academy Public School, University of Texas University Charter School, Harmony Public Schools - North Texas, Bosqueville ISD, China Spring ISD, Connally ISD, Gholson ISD, Hallsburg ISD, La Vega ISD, Lorena ISD, Midway ISD, Robinson ISD, Waco ISD.
What is the education level in Waco, Texas?
According to Census data, 25% of adults in Waco have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Waco, Texas?
The median household income in Waco is approximately $50,063 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Waco, Texas?
Yes, Waco has 9 private schools alongside 52 public schools. The top-rated private school is Waco Montessori School with a score of 7.4/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Waco, Texas?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Waco is 13.2:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Waco, 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
- Best Public Schools in Texas 2026: Top-Ranked Elementary, Middle & High Schoolsbest schools
- Best School Districts to Move To in 2026: A Data-Driven Guidebest schools
- Best Schools in Austin, TX — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best Schools in Dallas, TX — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best Schools in Fort Worth, TX — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
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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.