Waco High School

Summary:

Waco High School is a public high school serving 2,011 students in grades 9-12 in Waco, Texas, which is part of the Waco Independent School District. The school has a diverse student body, with a racial makeup of 10.19% White, 31.08% African American, 56.09% Hispanic, and smaller percentages of Asian, Native American, Pacific Islander, and multiracial students.

Waco High School has consistently ranked in the bottom 20% of Texas high schools over the past 10 years, with a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger, indicating it is among the lowest-performing schools in the state. The school's four-year graduation rate has fluctuated between 81.4% and 88.1% over the past five years, which is lower than the state average, and its dropout rate has ranged from 1.8% to 4.8% during the same period, which is higher than the state average. Waco High School's performance on STAAR End-of-Course exams is significantly below the state and district averages across all subject areas, with proficiency rates ranging from 22% to 51%, compared to state averages of 45% to 69%. The school's performance also varies significantly among different student subgroups, with the Asian and White student subgroups performing better than the African American and Hispanic subgroups, and the English Language Learner, Special Education, and Low Socioeconomic Status student subgroups performing significantly below the state and district averages.

Waco High School's performance is generally lower than that of nearby schools, such as Bosqueville High School and University High School, which are part of different school districts. Additionally, Waco High School has a very high percentage of students (over 88%) who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high level of economic disadvantage among the student population, which likely contributes to the school's lower academic performance.


Detail:

Public 9-12

 2020 N 42nd St
       Waco, TX  76710-3012


(254) 776-1150

District: Waco Independent School District (Isd)

SchoolDigger Rank:
1661st of 1,987 Texas High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $10,886 Help


Student/teacher ratio:  13.3 Help
Number of students:  2,011

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
56.1%
African American:
31.1%
White:
10.2%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  88% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Waco High School ranks worse than 83.6% of high schools in Texas. It also ranks 2nd among 5 ranked high schools in the Waco Independent School District (Isd). (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 17.3. (See more...)
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The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Waco High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.
Help
The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.
Student Body
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Compare Details Waco High School has the largest high school student body size in the Waco Independent School District (Isd). Racial makeup is: Hispanic (56.1%), African American (31.1%), White (10.2%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 88% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Waco High School is 13.3. 2 high schools in the Waco Independent School District (Isd) have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
Help
Compare Waco High School employs 151.1 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Waco High School is $10,886. 2 high schools in the Waco Independent School District (Isd) spend more per student.
Schooldigger Rankings:

Waco High School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.
SchoolDigger ranks Waco High School 1661st of 1987 Texas public high schools. (See Waco High School in the ranking list.)

Waco Independent School District (Isd):

SchoolDigger ranks Waco Independent School District (Isd) 901st of 968 Texas school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Waco High School

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Rank History for all students at Waco High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 28.15 1216th 1427 14.8%
2005 27.68 1195th 1429 16.4%
2006 27.85 1193rd 1430 16.6%
2007 30.40 1217th 1497 18.7%
2008 35.51 1182nd 1510 21.7%
2009 29.50 1301st 1539 15.5%
2010 35.00 1295th 1568 17.4%
2011 38.90 1321st 1672 21.0%
2012 21.74 1384th 1603 13.7%
2013 12.52 1501st 1652 9.1%
2014 18.66 1511th 1734 12.9%
2015 14.35 1543rd 1743 11.5%
2016 20.97 1497th 1762 15.0%
2017 21.08 1430th 1777 19.5%
2018 26.31 1358th 1797 24.4%
2019 27.75 1387th 1857 25.3%
2021 18.43 1549th 1861 16.8%
2022 16.24 1594th 1876 15.0%
2023 17.96 1628th 1961 17.0%
2024 17.30 1661st 1987 16.4%
See the entire list of Texas High School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Waco High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 17.44 510th 582 12.4%
2019 14.32 542nd 604 10.3%
2021 11.48 547th 588 7.0%
2022 14.91 591st 664 11.0%
2023 22.81 553rd 677 18.3%
See the entire list of Best Texas High Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Waco High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 41.37 514th 1113 53.8%
2019 36.90 644th 1136 43.3%
2021 28.40 896th 1195 25.0%
2022 23.56 1020th 1278 20.2%
2023 23.97 1060th 1371 22.7%
See the entire list of Best Texas High Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Waco High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 23.13 1165th 1347 13.5%
2019 29.46 1033rd 1357 23.9%
2021 29.44 1056th 1382 23.6%
2022 26.25 1153rd 1418 18.7%
2023 37.45 877th 1478 40.7%
See the entire list of Best Texas High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Waco High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 28.69 1389th 1794 22.6%
2019 26.25 1480th 1818 18.6%
2021 19.36 1558th 1848 15.7%
2022 19.50 1551st 1847 16.0%
2023 19.92 1580th 1897 16.7%
See the entire list of Best Texas High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Waco High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 24.29 1450th 1781 18.6%
2019 27.13 1405th 1798 21.9%
2021 16.33 1551st 1815 14.5%
2022 14.20 1593rd 1841 13.5%
2023 16.60 1598th 1891 15.5%
See the entire list of Best Texas High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at Waco High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 28.22 997th 1137 12.3%
2019 25.73 1022nd 1145 10.7%
2021 21.02 1031st 1177 12.4%
2022 22.19 1030th 1172 12.1%
2023 19.54 1058th 1182 10.5%
See the entire list of Best Texas High Schools for Gifted and Talented Students!

Rank History for At Risk students at Waco High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 32.10 1267th 1784 29.0%
2019 37.86 1111th 1810 38.6%
2021 22.37 1525th 1829 16.6%
2022 21.34 1561st 1837 15.0%
See the entire list of Best Texas High Schools for At Risk Students!

Rank History for Male students at Waco High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 25.45 1428th 1803 20.8%
2019 24.66 1430th 1824 21.6%
2021 19.15 1516th 1840 17.6%
2022 16.48 1575th 1853 15.0%
2023 17.29 1591st 1913 16.8%
See the entire list of Best Texas High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Waco High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 69.14 125th 488 74.4%
See the entire list of Best Texas High Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for African American students at Waco High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 25.92 767th 1013 24.3%
2019 25.87 771st 1024 24.7%
2021 18.26 871st 1020 14.6%
2022 18.55 877th 1031 14.9%
2023 18.34 899th 1069 15.9%
See the entire list of Best Texas High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Waco High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 33.84 1147th 1691 32.2%
2019 35.05 1158th 1714 32.4%
2021 24.88 1352nd 1743 22.4%
2022 21.75 1432nd 1762 18.7%
2023 22.91 1442nd 1820 20.8%
See the entire list of Best Texas High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Waco High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 40.48 987th 1539 35.9%
2019 43.18 904th 1526 40.8%
2021 33.59 1074th 1510 28.9%
2022 25.43 1218th 1525 20.1%
2023 30.79 1138th 1576 27.8%
See the entire list of Best Texas High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Texas Education Agency, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Waco High School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 



Data source: Texas Education Agency

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Enrollment information for Waco High School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 810 784 23 148 n/a n/a n/a 0 1765
1989 723 815 12 170 0 n/a n/a 0 1720
1990 688 790 22 190 0 n/a n/a 0 1690
1991 617 844 18 215 0 n/a n/a 0 1694
1992 765 1204 26 341 0 n/a n/a 0 2336
1993 709 1164 23 333 2 n/a n/a 0 2231
1994 659 1237 22 362 2 n/a n/a 0 2282
1995 640 1191 22 395 3 n/a n/a 0 2251
1996 640 1191 22 395 3 n/a n/a 0 2251
1997 680 1221 17 508 1 n/a n/a 0 2427
1998 496 900 17 383 3 n/a n/a 0 1799
1999 522 952 19 436 5 n/a n/a 0 1934
2000 525 945 14 490 2 n/a n/a 0 1976
2001 477 834 20 496 5 n/a n/a 0 1832
2002 466 821 9 575 1 n/a n/a 0 1872
2003 466 821 9 575 1 n/a n/a 0 1872
2004 472 830 9 639 2 n/a n/a 0 1952
2005 410 774 9 582 2 n/a n/a 0 1777
2006 378 825 9 598 1 n/a n/a 0 1811
2007 336 759 10 604 1 n/a n/a 0 1710
2008 340 788 11 633 2 n/a n/a 0 1774
2009 312 843 16 683 3 n/a n/a 0 1857
2010 264 730 13 627 3 n/a n/a 0 1637
2011 241 636 9 630 5 0 31 0 1552
2012 217 573 6 613 9 1 25 0 1444
2013 218 646 6 745 10 0 29 0 1654
2014 207 660 4 817 16 0 28 0 1732
2015 181 710 5 871 4 1 27 0 1799
2016 173 682 3 920 0 0 31 0 1809
2017 191 678 5 970 0 0 22 0 1866
2018 217 687 8 1024 1 1 33 0 1971
2019 220 681 10 1102 3 1 36 0 2053
2020 239 660 14 1111 1 1 38 0 2064
2021 233 681 10 1148 2 2 46 0 2122
2022 194 632 10 1084 1 1 42 0 1964
2023 205 625 9 1128 3 2 39 0 2011

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Waco High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 1765 99.0 17.8 n/a
1989 1720 n/a n/a n/a
1990 1690 106.0 15.9 n/a
1991 1694 106.1 15.9 n/a
1992 2336 143.2 16.3 50
1993 2231 148.0 15.1 58.2
1994 2282 164.4 13.9 50.3
1995 2251 144.5 15.6 52.3
1996 2251 144.5 15.6 52.3
1997 2427 144.3 16.8 53.9
1998 1799 108.6 16.6 56
1999 1934 113.2 17.1 54.9
2000 1976 104.5 18.9 41.8
2001 1832 113.0 16.2 54.9
2002 1872 112.7 16.6 61.5
2003 1872 112.7 16.6 61.5
2004 1952 110.9 17.6 62.8
2005 1777 116.7 15.2 61.1
2006 1811 119.4 15.2 63
2007 1710 121.4 14.1 67.6
2008 1774 116.0 15.3 69.7
2009 1857 124.1 15.0 73.3
2010 1637 130.2 12.5 76.7
2011 1552 126.8 12.2 73.3
2012 1444 101.5 14.2 74.4
2013 1654 102.3 16.1 77.3
2014 1732 102.0 16.9 74.7
2015 1799 116.0 15.5 75.5
2016 1809 125.0 14.4 79.3
2017 1866 130.4 14.2 71
2018 1971 133.8 14.7 80.4
2019 2053 132.6 15.4 73
2020 2064 138.8 14.8 87.4
2021 2122 144.5 14.6 88.4
2022 1964 147.1 13.3 88.5
2023 2011 151.1 13.3 88

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Waco High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 1765 99.0 17.8 n/a
1989 1720 n/a n/a n/a
1990 1690 106.0 15.9 n/a
1991 1694 106.1 15.9 n/a
1992 2336 143.2 16.3 50
1993 2231 148.0 15.1 58.2
1994 2282 164.4 13.9 50.3
1995 2251 144.5 15.6 52.3
1996 2251 144.5 15.6 52.3
1997 2427 144.3 16.8 53.9
1998 1799 108.6 16.6 56
1999 1934 113.2 17.1 54.9
2000 1976 104.5 18.9 41.8
2001 1832 113.0 16.2 54.9
2002 1872 112.7 16.6 61.5
2003 1872 112.7 16.6 61.5
2004 1952 110.9 17.6 62.8
2005 1777 116.7 15.2 61.1
2006 1811 119.4 15.2 63
2007 1710 121.4 14.1 67.6
2008 1774 116.0 15.3 69.7
2009 1857 124.1 15.0 73.3
2010 1637 130.2 12.5 76.7
2011 1552 126.8 12.2 73.3
2012 1444 101.5 14.2 74.4
2013 1654 102.3 16.1 77.3
2014 1732 102.0 16.9 74.7
2015 1799 116.0 15.5 75.5
2016 1809 125.0 14.4 79.3
2017 1866 130.4 14.2 71
2018 1971 133.8 14.7 80.4
2019 2053 132.6 15.4 73
2020 2064 138.8 14.8 87.4
2021 2122 144.5 14.6 88.4
2022 1964 147.1 13.3 88.5
2023 2011 151.1 13.3 88

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Waco High School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $1,378 (13.5%) $8,857 (86.5%) $10,235
2020 $1,349 (13.2%) $8,896 (86.8%) $10,245
2021 $1,568 (14.4%) $9,318 (85.6%) $10,886

Data source: Texas Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Waco High School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 1387th of 1857 High schoolsRanks 1628th of 1961 High schools
 8.3%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
End of Course Algebra I (Waco High School)5622
 34%
   End of Course Algebra I (Waco Independent School District (Isd))5933
 26%
   End of Course Algebra I (Texas)6245
 17%
End of Course Biology (Waco High School)4529
 16%
   End of Course Biology (Waco Independent School District (Isd))4830
 18%
   End of Course Biology (Texas)6357
 6%
End of Course English I Reading (Waco High School)3131
   End of Course English I Reading (Waco Independent School District (Isd))3233
 1%
   End of Course English I Reading (Texas)4954
 5%
End of Course English II Reading (Waco High School)3133
 2%
   End of Course English II Reading (Waco Independent School District (Isd))3234
 2%
   End of Course English II Reading (Texas)5156
 5%
End of Course U.S. History (Waco High School)6159
 2%
   End of Course U.S. History (Waco Independent School District (Isd))6254
 8%
   End of Course U.S. History (Texas)7571
 4%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students20532011
 2%
African American681625
 8.2%
American Indian33
Asian109
 10%
Hispanic11021128
 2.4%
Pacific Islander12
 100%
White220205
 6.8%
Two or More Races3639
 8.3%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients73%88%
 15%


Schools Near Waco High School









Frequently Asked Questions about Waco High School

Students at Waco High School are 56% Hispanic, 31% African American, 10% White, 2% Two or more races.

Waco High School ranks in the bottom 16.4% of Texas high schools.

In the 2022-23 school year, 2,011 students attended Waco High School.

Waco High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Brook Avenue Elementary
Elementary : Cedar Ridge Elementary
Elementary : Crestview Elementary
Elementary : Dean Highland Elementary
Elementary : J H Hines Elementary
Elementary : Mountainview Elementary
Elementary : Parkdale Elementary
Elementary : Provident Heights Elementary
Elementary : West Avenue Elementary
Middle : G W Carver Middle
Middle : Tennyson Middle


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Texas Education Agency.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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