Amarillo Schools Jump to All B's in Texas Rankings

Schools across the Amarillo area are celebrating a year of measurable progress after Texas released its annual accountability ratings this week. All five major districts in the region earned solid B ratings, with some making impressive gains in helping every student succeed.

River Road ISD led the pack with the most dramatic improvement, jumping nine points to earn an 80 overall score. The district's biggest win came in closing achievement gaps between different student groups, where it soared from 65 to 81 points in just one year.

Amarillo ISD also showed strong momentum, improving from 83 to 85 points overall. The district serves over 28,000 students, with nearly 70% qualifying as economically disadvantaged. Despite these challenges, it raised its Closing the Gaps score enough to move from a C to a B in that category.

Several individual campuses earned top marks in student achievement. Amarillo High School, Puckett Elementary, Sleepy Hollow Elementary, Windsor Elementary, Woodlands Elementary, Bonham Middle School, and Lorenzo de Zavala Middle School all received A ratings for how well their students are learning and growing.

Canyon ISD maintained its strong performance with an 87 rating, serving over 11,500 students. Bushland ISD scored an 89, and Highland Park ISD earned an 81. The ratings measure three key areas: how students perform on tests and graduation, how much academic growth happens over time, and whether all student groups are getting the support they need.

The Ripple Effect

These improvements matter beyond report cards. When schools close achievement gaps, they're giving every child a fair shot at success regardless of their background or family income. The gains in Amarillo ISD and River Road ISD show that focused effort can help disadvantaged students catch up and thrive.

The region's smallest student-to-teacher ratios also played a role in success. Highland Park ISD averaged just 12.3 students per teacher, while Amarillo ISD maintained 14 students per teacher. Smaller class sizes mean more individual attention and support.

Every Amarillo-area high school earned at least a B rating overall, with Bushland High School scoring an impressive 95. These strong high school scores mean more students are graduating prepared for college, careers, or whatever comes next.

The progress shows what's possible when schools focus on lifting every student up, not just the highest achievers.