University High School

Summary:

University High School is a public high school located in Waco, Texas, serving grades 9-12 with a total enrollment of 1,678 students. The school is part of the Waco Independent School District, which is ranked 901 out of 968 districts in Texas and has a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Despite serving a predominantly Hispanic (74.55%) and economically disadvantaged (88.86% qualify for free or reduced-price lunch) student population, University High School has consistently ranked in the bottom half of Texas high schools, with performance on STAAR End-of-Course (EOC) exams below the district and state averages across all subject areas. The school's four-year graduation rate has declined from 93.9% in 2020-2021 to 85.5% in 2022-2023, which is lower than the state average, and its dropout rate has increased from 1.1% in 2019-2020 to 3.5% in 2020-2021, higher than the state average.

Compared to nearby schools like Midway High School and Robinson High School, which are ranked much higher in the state and have higher proficiency rates on STAAR EOC exams, University High School lags behind significantly. Even nearby charter schools, such as Paul and Jane Meyer Public High School and Harmony School of Innovation - Waco, outperform University High School academically, despite serving similar student populations. The performance gaps between racial and socioeconomic subgroups at University High School are also concerning, with African American and Hispanic students, as well as low-income and English Language Learner students, performing significantly lower than their peers.


Detail:

Public 9-12

 3201 S New Rd
       Waco, TX  76706


(254) 756-1843

District: Waco Independent School District (Isd)

SchoolDigger Rank:
1516th of 1,987 Texas High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $10,905 Help


Feeder schools for University High School:

Elementary:    Alta Vista Elementary
    Bell's Hill Elementary
    Kendrick Elementary
    South Waco Elementary
Middle:    Cesar Chavez Middle

Student/teacher ratio:  15.1 Help
Number of students:  1,678

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
74.6%
African American:
19.2%
White:
4.5%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  88.9% Help


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Performance Trends
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Compare Details University High School ranks worse than 76.3% of high schools in Texas. It also ranks first 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 25.19. (See more...)
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The Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR) measures the percentage of University High School freshmen who graduate within four years, adjusting for students who transfer in or out.
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 Racial makeup is: Hispanic (74.6%), African American (19.2%), White (4.5%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 88.9% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at University High School is 15.1. 3 high schools in the Waco Independent School District (Isd) have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
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Compare University High School employs 110.7 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at University High School is $10,905, which is the 2nd highest among 5 high schools in the Waco Independent School District (Isd).
Schooldigger Rankings:

University High School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.
SchoolDigger ranks University High School 1516th of 1987 Texas public high schools. (See University 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 University High School

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Rank History for all students at University High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 19.13 1284th 1427 10.0%
2005 17.11 1288th 1429 9.9%
2006 20.73 1250th 1430 12.6%
2007 30.59 1215th 1497 18.8%
2008 33.21 1222nd 1510 19.1%
2009 41.14 1159th 1539 24.7%
2010 43.06 1183rd 1568 24.6%
2011 36.87 1353rd 1672 19.1%
2012 22.06 1380th 1603 13.9%
2013 19.72 1427th 1652 13.6%
2014 24.79 1421st 1734 18.1%
2015 33.20 1313th 1743 24.7%
2016 33.35 1305th 1762 25.9%
2017 29.89 1252nd 1777 29.5%
2018 36.02 1144th 1797 36.3%
2019 35.51 1235th 1857 33.5%
2021 30.28 1309th 1861 29.7%
2022 25.53 1430th 1876 23.8%
2023 25.43 1490th 1961 24.0%
2024 25.19 1516th 1987 23.7%
See the entire list of Texas High School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at University High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 28.99 431st 582 25.9%
2019 4.27 579th 604 4.1%
2021 22.79 475th 588 19.2%
2022 4.66 643rd 664 3.2%
2023 32.26 467th 677 31.0%
See the entire list of Best Texas High Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at University High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 29.04 830th 1113 25.4%
2019 35.77 673rd 1136 40.8%
2021 35.73 743rd 1195 37.8%
2022 24.20 1000th 1278 21.8%
2023 28.37 953rd 1371 30.5%
See the entire list of Best Texas High Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at University High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 30.37 985th 1347 26.9%
2019 29.31 1043rd 1357 23.1%
2021 27.98 1093rd 1382 20.9%
2022 27.74 1116th 1418 21.3%
2023 26.47 1186th 1478 19.8%
See the entire list of Best Texas High Schools for Special Education Students!

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

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 43.97 943rd 1794 47.4%
2019 42.72 1019th 1818 43.9%
2021 30.87 1329th 1848 28.1%
2022 29.67 1347th 1847 27.1%
2023 29.98 1370th 1897 27.8%
See the entire list of Best Texas High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at University High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 35.16 1210th 1781 32.1%
2019 36.59 1228th 1798 31.7%
2021 30.22 1311th 1815 27.8%
2022 24.93 1430th 1841 22.3%
2023 21.26 1519th 1891 19.7%
See the entire list of Best Texas High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at University High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 22.53 1032nd 1137 9.2%
2019 50.33 770th 1145 32.8%
2021 24.44 1015th 1177 13.8%
2022 20.90 1038th 1172 11.4%
2023 16.45 1073rd 1182 9.2%
See the entire list of Best Texas High Schools for Gifted and Talented Students!

Rank History for At Risk students at University High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 32.81 1234th 1784 30.8%
2019 35.30 1202nd 1810 33.6%
2021 34.98 1165th 1829 36.3%
2022 27.77 1370th 1837 25.4%
See the entire list of Best Texas High Schools for At Risk Students!

Rank History for Male students at University High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 32.11 1253rd 1803 30.5%
2019 31.24 1286th 1824 29.5%
2021 28.31 1335th 1840 27.4%
2022 23.00 1435th 1853 22.6%
2023 27.44 1394th 1913 27.1%
See the entire list of Best Texas High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at University High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 34.67 632nd 1013 37.6%
2019 33.29 654th 1024 36.1%
2021 27.17 742nd 1020 27.3%
2022 23.34 805th 1031 21.9%
2023 32.71 685th 1069 35.9%
See the entire list of Best Texas High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at University High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 43.81 891st 1691 47.3%
2019 43.89 931st 1714 45.7%
2021 40.09 1024th 1743 41.3%
2022 32.74 1191st 1762 32.4%
2023 30.82 1268th 1820 30.3%
See the entire list of Best Texas High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at University High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 26.45 1238th 1539 19.6%
2019 21.34 1301st 1526 14.7%
2021 19.05 1278th 1510 15.4%
2022 18.04 1317th 1525 13.6%
2023 13.40 1392nd 1576 11.7%
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.

University 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 University High School

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 252 319 5 366 n/a n/a n/a 0 942
1989 236 320 8 364 0 n/a n/a 0 928
1990 243 312 4 409 1 n/a n/a 0 969
1991 207 320 5 403 0 n/a n/a 0 935
1992 219 351 8 479 0 n/a n/a 0 1057
1993 218 373 7 508 0 n/a n/a 0 1106
1994 204 351 8 536 0 n/a n/a 0 1099
1995 192 314 6 610 0 n/a n/a 0 1122
1996 192 314 6 610 0 n/a n/a 0 1122
1997 193 327 3 660 0 n/a n/a 0 1183
1998 158 297 3 657 0 n/a n/a 0 1115
1999 136 290 3 650 0 n/a n/a 0 1079
2000 111 310 1 661 1 n/a n/a 0 1084
2001 98 297 1 643 1 n/a n/a 0 1040
2002 96 357 5 708 0 n/a n/a 0 1166
2003 96 357 5 708 0 n/a n/a 0 1166
2004 92 350 6 715 0 n/a n/a 0 1163
2005 87 348 6 704 0 n/a n/a 0 1145
2006 88 392 4 715 0 n/a n/a 0 1199
2007 86 357 3 716 0 n/a n/a 0 1162
2008 105 334 2 769 0 n/a n/a 0 1210
2009 86 313 1 781 0 n/a n/a 0 1181
2010 90 349 3 864 1 n/a n/a 0 1307
2011 69 347 2 917 2 0 4 0 1341
2012 71 401 3 957 4 0 2 0 1438
2013 90 396 7 1152 1 0 13 0 1659
2014 77 347 9 1083 6 1 14 0 1537
2015 66 346 8 1170 0 1 19 0 1610
2016 79 369 6 1195 1 1 16 0 1667
2017 85 356 5 1259 0 0 20 0 1725
2018 87 341 4 1284 0 0 19 0 1735
2019 76 304 3 1251 0 1 17 0 1652
2020 85 303 3 1278 1 0 14 0 1684
2021 92 324 1 1326 2 0 18 0 1763
2022 85 309 0 1255 4 1 18 0 1672
2023 76 322 1 1251 5 1 22 0 1678

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 University High School

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Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 942 63.0 14.9 n/a
1989 928 n/a n/a n/a
1990 969 64.0 15.1 n/a
1991 935 64.3 14.5 n/a
1992 1057 64.1 16.4 55.2
1993 1106 69.0 16.0 64.1
1994 1099 74.8 14.7 49
1995 1122 67.9 16.5 57.8
1996 1122 67.9 16.5 57.8
1997 1183 72.7 16.3 60
1998 1115 68.0 16.4 65.3
1999 1079 69.6 15.5 64.6
2000 1084 70.8 15.3 56.2
2001 1040 68.0 15.3 62.9
2002 1166 75.2 15.5 72.2
2003 1166 75.2 15.5 72.2
2004 1163 72.9 16.0 72.3
2005 1145 78.3 14.6 69.3
2006 1199 79.5 15.1 71.8
2007 1162 82.0 14.2 77.2
2008 1210 77.8 15.6 76.8
2009 1181 79.4 14.9 79.2
2010 1307 84.0 15.5 86.8
2011 1341 90.3 14.8 81.7
2012 1438 92.0 15.6 84.6
2013 1659 112.6 14.7 85.7
2014 1537 101.4 15.1 85.4
2015 1610 101.0 15.9 83.7
2016 1667 104.0 16.0 84
2017 1725 111.8 15.4 79.3
2018 1735 113.8 15.2 81.8
2019 1652 111.1 14.8 n/a
2020 1684 111.8 15.0 90
2021 1763 115.4 15.2 90.6
2022 1672 121.4 13.7 88.7
2023 1678 110.7 15.1 88.9

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 University High School

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Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 942 63.0 14.9 n/a
1989 928 n/a n/a n/a
1990 969 64.0 15.1 n/a
1991 935 64.3 14.5 n/a
1992 1057 64.1 16.4 55.2
1993 1106 69.0 16.0 64.1
1994 1099 74.8 14.7 49
1995 1122 67.9 16.5 57.8
1996 1122 67.9 16.5 57.8
1997 1183 72.7 16.3 60
1998 1115 68.0 16.4 65.3
1999 1079 69.6 15.5 64.6
2000 1084 70.8 15.3 56.2
2001 1040 68.0 15.3 62.9
2002 1166 75.2 15.5 72.2
2003 1166 75.2 15.5 72.2
2004 1163 72.9 16.0 72.3
2005 1145 78.3 14.6 69.3
2006 1199 79.5 15.1 71.8
2007 1162 82.0 14.2 77.2
2008 1210 77.8 15.6 76.8
2009 1181 79.4 14.9 79.2
2010 1307 84.0 15.5 86.8
2011 1341 90.3 14.8 81.7
2012 1438 92.0 15.6 84.6
2013 1659 112.6 14.7 85.7
2014 1537 101.4 15.1 85.4
2015 1610 101.0 15.9 83.7
2016 1667 104.0 16.0 84
2017 1725 111.8 15.4 79.3
2018 1735 113.8 15.2 81.8
2019 1652 111.1 14.8 n/a
2020 1684 111.8 15.0 90
2021 1763 115.4 15.2 90.6
2022 1672 121.4 13.7 88.7
2023 1678 110.7 15.1 88.9

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 University High School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $1,366 (12.8%) $9,307 (87.2%) $10,673
2020 $1,312 (12.7%) $8,992 (87.3%) $10,304
2021 $1,483 (13.6%) $9,422 (86.4%) $10,905

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

Impact of COVID-19 on University 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 1235th of 1857 High schoolsRanks 1490th of 1961 High schools
 9.5%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
End of Course Algebra I (University High School)5038
 12%
   End of Course Algebra I (Waco Independent School District (Isd))5933
 26%
   End of Course Algebra I (Texas)6245
 17%
End of Course Biology (University High School)5535
 20%
   End of Course Biology (Waco Independent School District (Isd))4830
 18%
   End of Course Biology (Texas)6357
 6%
End of Course English I Reading (University High School)3738
 1%
   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 (University High School)3641
 5%
   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 (University High School)6757
 10%
   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 Students16521678
 1.6%
African American304322
 5.9%
American Indian05
Asian31
 66.7%
Hispanic12511251
Pacific Islander11
White7676
Two or More Races1722
 29.4%


Schools Near University High School









Frequently Asked Questions about University High School

University High School ranks in the bottom 23.7% of Texas high schools.

Students at University High School are 75% Hispanic, 19% African American, 5% White, 1% Two or more races.

University High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Alta Vista Elementary
Elementary : Bell's Hill Elementary
Elementary : Kendrick Elementary
Elementary : South Waco Elementary
Middle : Cesar Chavez Middle

In the 2022-23 school year, 1,678 students attended University High School.


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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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