Waco ISD School District
School District · Waco, Texas
Avg Rating
4.5
out of 10
Schools
24
15 elem, 3 mid, 5 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$14,294
Student-Teacher Ratio
13.7:1
Avg Rating
4.5
out of 10
Schools
24
15 elem, 3 mid, 5 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$14,294
Student-Teacher Ratio
13.7:1
Evaluating Waco ISD?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge Waco ISD as a whole, then compare how its individual schools differ.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Tennyson Middle
Waco · Middle. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
G W Carver Middle
Waco · Middle. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Lake Air Montessori School
Waco · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
Texas rank
#853 of 899
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-1.8
below Texas avg
Per-pupil spending
$14,294
+$1,326 vs Texas median
District size
13,517 students
Much larger than Texas median
The short answer
Waco ISD ranks #853 of 899 Texas districts by overall school rating. Waco ISD's schools with real test data average 4.5/10 across 23 schools. Its top-rated schools are Tennyson Middle (6.8/10), G W Carver Middle (5.8/10), and Lake Air Montessori School (5.8/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 6.8/10 despite 86% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.0 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 ISD schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +8.8 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Waco ISD schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Waco ISD
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (23 of 24). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tennyson Middle | 6.8 / 10 |
| 2 | G W Carver Middle | 5.8 / 10 |
| 3 | Lake Air Montessori School | 5.8 / 10 |
| 4 | University H S | 5.6 / 10 |
| 5 | Bell's Hill EL | 5.6 / 10 |
| 6 | G L Wiley Opportunity Center | 5.5 / 10 |
| 7 | Challenge Academy | 5.5 / 10 |
| 8 | Hillcrest Pds Magnet | 5.3 / 10 |
| 9 | Cesar Chavez Middle | 5.2 / 10 |
| 10 | Waco H S | 4.9 / 10 |
See all 24 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Waco ISD
Waco ISD is a Waco, Texas school district serving 24 schools. The district educates 13,517 students with a student-teacher ratio of 13.7:1. The district invests $14,294 per student annually.
With an average rating of 4.5/10, Waco ISD demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Tennyson Middle, which has a composite score of 6.8/10.
In standardized testing, Waco ISD students show an average math proficiency of 44.4% and ELA proficiency of 47.9%.
The district includes 15 elementary schools , 3 middle schools , and 5 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Waco ISD, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Waco ISD with test data.
Schools in Waco ISD
24 schools Elementary Schools 15
Middle Schools 3
High Schools 5
Other Schools 1
District Details
- State
- Texas
- City
- Waco
- Total Enrollment
- 13,517
- Teachers (FTE)
- 985
- Child Poverty Rate
- 0.3%
- Data Year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Waco ISD?
Waco ISD has 24 schools in total — 15 elementary, 3 middle, and 5 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Waco ISD?
The average composite rating for Waco ISD is 4.5/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the per-pupil spending in Waco ISD?
Waco ISD spends $14,294 per student per year.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Waco ISD?
The average student-teacher ratio in Waco ISD is 13.7:1.
What is the top-rated school in Waco ISD?
Tennyson Middle is the highest-rated school in Waco ISD with a composite score of 6.8/10.
What are the test scores in Waco ISD?
Across schools in Waco ISD with test data, the average math proficiency is 44.4% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 47.9%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Waco ISD compare to other districts in Texas?
Waco ISD has an average school rating of 4.5/10 across 24 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in Texas by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 4.5/10
- Math Proficiency
- 44.4%
- ELA Proficiency
- 47.9%
Resources
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 rateOther School Districts in TX
Compare Waco ISD with neighboring districts in the state.
- Houston ISD (274)
- Dallas ISD (240)
- Fort Worth ISD (138)
- Northside ISD (126)
- Idea Public Schools (123)
- Austin ISD (123)
- San Antonio ISD (98)
- Cypress-fairbanks ISD (93)
- Fort Bend ISD (83)
- Aldine ISD (80)
- Garland ISD (78)
- Katy ISD (78)
- Frisco ISD (77)
- Plano ISD (77)
- Arlington ISD (75)
- EL Paso ISD (75)
- North East ISD (75)
- Pasadena ISD (67)
- Conroe ISD (66)
- Lewisville ISD (62)
- Round Rock ISD (60)
- Kipp Texas Public Schools (56)
- Brownsville ISD (56)
- Amarillo ISD (55)
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.
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