La Vega High School

Summary:

La Vega High School is a public high school in Waco, Texas, serving 882 students in grades 9-12. The student body is predominantly Hispanic, with African American and White students making up the next largest racial groups.

While La Vega High School maintains graduation rates on par with the state average, the school has consistently ranked in the bottom half of Texas high schools academically. Its performance on STAAR End-of-Course tests is significantly below state averages, and the school shows concerning achievement gaps between different student subgroups. For example, the school's rankings for African American, Hispanic, and White students vary widely, with the White student group performing the poorest. Despite a relatively low student-teacher ratio, the school's per-student spending is only slightly above the state average, raising questions about resource allocation.

When compared to nearby schools, such as Bosqueville High School, which consistently ranks in the top 20% of Texas high schools, La Vega High School is clearly underperforming. The school's challenges in meeting the needs of its predominantly economically disadvantaged student population suggest a need for targeted interventions and a closer examination of instructional practices to improve student outcomes.


Detail:

Public 9-12

 555 N Loop 340
       Waco, TX  76705-2573


(254) 799-4951

District: La Vega Independent School District (Isd)

SchoolDigger Rank:
1457th of 1,987 Texas High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $10,898 Help


Feeder schools for La Vega High School:

Elementary:    La Vega Elementary
    La Vega Pri Phil Bancale Campus
Middle:    La Vega Intermediate H P Miles Campus
    La Vega J H George Dixon Campus

Student/teacher ratio:  14.2 Help
Number of students:  877

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
61.0%
African American:
24.4%
White:
12.5%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  90.3% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details La Vega High School ranks worse than 73.3% of high schools in Texas. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 27.5. (See more...)
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The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at La Vega 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
Help
Compare Details Student population at La Vega High School is diverse. Racial makeup is: Hispanic (61%), African American (24.4%), White (12.5%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 90.3% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
Help
Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at La Vega High School is 14.2. (See more...)
Help
Compare La Vega High School employs 61.7 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at La Vega High School is $10,898.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

La Vega High School:

SchoolDigger ranks La Vega High School 1457th of 1987 Texas public high schools. (See La Vega High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Multi-racial students:
English Language Learner students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
African American students:
Hispanic students:
White students:




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Rank History for La Vega High School

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Compare

Rank History for all students at La Vega High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 41.14 1058th 1427 25.9%
2005 27.63 1196th 1429 16.3%
2006 30.21 1160th 1430 18.9%
2007 30.16 1221st 1497 18.4%
2008 25.14 1304th 1510 13.6%
2009 21.92 1368th 1539 11.1%
2010 29.70 1359th 1568 13.3%
2011 41.70 1276th 1672 23.7%
2012 25.50 1341st 1603 16.3%
2013 21.69 1413th 1652 14.5%
2014 22.16 1460th 1734 15.8%
2015 22.01 1459th 1743 16.3%
2016 17.14 1528th 1762 13.3%
2017 16.13 1509th 1777 15.1%
2018 20.62 1463rd 1797 18.6%
2019 24.62 1441st 1857 22.4%
2021 24.19 1444th 1861 22.4%
2022 25.45 1431st 1876 23.7%
2023 19.60 1602nd 1961 18.3%
2024 27.50 1457th 1987 26.7%
See the entire list of Texas High School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at La Vega High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 10.90 542nd 582 6.9%
2019 30.69 436th 604 27.8%
2021 47.69 297th 588 49.5%
2022 31.01 463rd 664 30.3%
2023 11.08 616th 677 9.0%
2024 16.33 642nd 730 12.1%
See the entire list of Best Texas High Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at La Vega High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 37.40 609th 1113 45.3%
2019 29.57 815th 1136 28.3%
2021 41.84 582nd 1195 51.3%
2022 40.14 627th 1278 50.9%
2023 34.82 793rd 1371 42.2%
2024 37.10 786th 1435 45.2%
See the entire list of Best Texas High Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at La Vega High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 20.84 1246th 1347 7.5%
2019 20.05 1237th 1357 8.8%
2021 16.93 1324th 1382 4.2%
2022 27.28 1125th 1418 20.7%
2023 24.63 1234th 1478 16.5%
2024 22.17 1338th 1547 13.5%
See the entire list of Best Texas High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at La Vega High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 27.36 1423rd 1794 20.7%
2019 32.77 1319th 1818 27.4%
2021 31.52 1310th 1848 29.1%
2022 31.90 1297th 1847 29.8%
2023 29.17 1394th 1897 26.5%
2024 25.78 1450th 1883 23.0%
See the entire list of Best Texas High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at La Vega High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 19.86 1523rd 1781 14.5%
2019 20.46 1522nd 1798 15.4%
2021 28.57 1343rd 1815 26.0%
2022 28.22 1353rd 1841 26.5%
2023 19.33 1556th 1891 17.7%
See the entire list of Best Texas High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at La Vega High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 31.06 982nd 1137 13.6%
2019 70.63 248th 1145 78.3%
2021 56.73 691st 1177 41.3%
2022 59.76 610th 1172 48.0%
2023 33.28 965th 1182 18.4%
See the entire list of Best Texas High Schools for Gifted and Talented Students!

Rank History for At Risk students at La Vega High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 18.16 1631st 1784 8.6%
2019 28.46 1407th 1810 22.3%
2021 33.32 1217th 1829 33.5%
2022 30.50 1292nd 1837 29.7%
See the entire list of Best Texas High Schools for At Risk Students!

Rank History for Male students at La Vega High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 20.17 1524th 1803 15.5%
2019 25.80 1405th 1824 23.0%
2021 19.67 1508th 1840 18.0%
2022 22.85 1436th 1853 22.5%
2023 18.55 1572nd 1913 17.8%
See the entire list of Best Texas High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at La Vega High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 24.04 791st 1013 21.9%
2019 28.69 724th 1024 29.3%
2021 26.08 760th 1020 25.5%
2022 32.06 655th 1031 36.5%
2023 21.91 843rd 1069 21.1%
2024 24.38 790th 1065 25.8%
See the entire list of Best Texas High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at La Vega High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 25.82 1359th 1691 19.6%
2019 28.34 1311th 1714 23.5%
2021 30.48 1238th 1743 29.0%
2022 32.27 1202nd 1762 31.8%
2023 26.31 1380th 1820 24.2%
2024 26.41 1345th 1804 25.4%
See the entire list of Best Texas High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at La Vega High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 17.25 1347th 1539 12.5%
2019 23.17 1277th 1526 16.3%
2021 18.89 1281st 1510 15.2%
2022 13.62 1375th 1525 9.8%
2023 7.44 1453rd 1576 7.8%
2024 19.70 1305th 1556 16.1%
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.

La Vega 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 La Vega High School

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 336 140 2 71 n/a n/a n/a 0 549
1989 350 136 3 83 0 n/a n/a 0 572
1990 326 142 0 74 4 n/a n/a 0 546
1991 337 126 3 71 4 n/a n/a 0 541
1992 347 146 3 89 4 n/a n/a 0 589
1993 353 159 2 92 4 n/a n/a 0 610
1994 324 179 5 90 1 n/a n/a 0 599
1995 341 151 3 115 1 n/a n/a 0 611
1996 341 151 3 115 1 n/a n/a 0 611
1997 353 144 3 122 0 n/a n/a 0 622
1998 367 141 2 143 0 n/a n/a 0 653
1999 339 157 4 139 1 n/a n/a 0 640
2000 293 157 4 126 1 n/a n/a 0 581
2001 299 177 3 144 1 n/a n/a 0 624
2002 295 166 6 166 1 n/a n/a 0 634
2003 295 166 6 166 1 n/a n/a 0 634
2004 280 172 8 197 1 n/a n/a 0 658
2005 245 169 10 198 0 n/a n/a 0 622
2006 207 192 5 204 0 n/a n/a 0 608
2007 202 179 5 219 1 n/a n/a 0 606
2008 184 212 3 246 5 n/a n/a 0 650
2009 186 237 5 285 4 n/a n/a 0 717
2010 197 258 3 326 3 n/a n/a 0 787
2011 164 231 2 336 3 0 6 0 742
2012 154 223 3 359 4 0 6 0 749
2013 146 206 2 374 2 0 7 0 737
2014 132 224 2 372 4 0 9 0 743
2015 124 232 2 376 2 0 9 0 745
2016 126 248 2 378 3 0 12 0 769
2017 120 269 1 421 2 0 14 0 827
2018 128 283 0 435 2 0 17 0 865
2019 128 283 1 465 2 0 16 0 895
2020 116 261 1 513 1 0 22 0 914
2021 130 264 2 516 1 0 23 0 936
2022 113 263 1 541 0 0 19 0 937
2023 95 226 1 543 1 1 15 0 882
2024 110 214 2 535 2 1 13 0 877

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 La Vega High School

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Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 549 40.0 13.7 n/a
1989 572 n/a n/a n/a
1990 546 34.0 16.0 n/a
1991 541 34.1 15.8 n/a
1992 589 35.8 16.4 23.9
1993 610 35.0 17.4 29.5
1994 599 38.0 15.8 30.7
1995 611 40.1 15.2 36.5
1996 611 40.1 15.2 36.5
1997 622 41.0 15.2 38.9
1998 653 46.1 14.2 36.1
1999 640 45.6 14.0 48.3
2000 581 46.3 12.5 51.1
2001 624 47.0 13.3 47.6
2002 634 46.0 13.8 54.3
2003 634 46.0 13.8 54.3
2004 658 48.0 13.7 43
2005 622 49.1 12.7 58.7
2006 608 48.2 12.6 63.2
2007 606 41.6 14.6 67.2
2008 650 40.5 16.0 72.6
2009 717 43.6 16.4 65.3
2010 787 48.5 16.2 74.2
2011 742 51.1 14.5 71.8
2012 749 50.7 14.7 81.7
2013 737 52.2 14.1 81.5
2014 743 51.7 14.3 81.7
2015 745 50.0 14.9 75.8
2016 769 50.0 15.3 85.2
2017 827 54.5 15.1 82.8
2018 865 60.5 14.2 85.5
2019 895 60.7 14.7 89.6
2020 914 63.5 14.3 90.2
2021 936 61.1 15.3 88.6
2022 937 61.6 15.2 90.9
2023 882 58.7 15.0 90.1
2024 877 61.7 14.2 90.3

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 La Vega High School

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Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 549 40.0 13.7 n/a
1989 572 n/a n/a n/a
1990 546 34.0 16.0 n/a
1991 541 34.1 15.8 n/a
1992 589 35.8 16.4 23.9
1993 610 35.0 17.4 29.5
1994 599 38.0 15.8 30.7
1995 611 40.1 15.2 36.5
1996 611 40.1 15.2 36.5
1997 622 41.0 15.2 38.9
1998 653 46.1 14.2 36.1
1999 640 45.6 14.0 48.3
2000 581 46.3 12.5 51.1
2001 624 47.0 13.3 47.6
2002 634 46.0 13.8 54.3
2003 634 46.0 13.8 54.3
2004 658 48.0 13.7 43
2005 622 49.1 12.7 58.7
2006 608 48.2 12.6 63.2
2007 606 41.6 14.6 67.2
2008 650 40.5 16.0 72.6
2009 717 43.6 16.4 65.3
2010 787 48.5 16.2 74.2
2011 742 51.1 14.5 71.8
2012 749 50.7 14.7 81.7
2013 737 52.2 14.1 81.5
2014 743 51.7 14.3 81.7
2015 745 50.0 14.9 75.8
2016 769 50.0 15.3 85.2
2017 827 54.5 15.1 82.8
2018 865 60.5 14.2 85.5
2019 895 60.7 14.7 89.6
2020 914 63.5 14.3 90.2
2021 936 61.1 15.3 88.6
2022 937 61.6 15.2 90.9
2023 882 58.7 15.0 90.1
2024 877 61.7 14.2 90.3

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 La Vega High School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $1,059 (9.6%) $9,995 (90.4%) $11,054
2020 $1,020 (9.4%) $9,876 (90.6%) $10,896
2021 $998 (9.2%) $9,900 (90.8%) $10,898

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

Impact of COVID-19 on La Vega 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 1441st of 1857 High schoolsRanks 1602nd of 1961 High schools
 4.1%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
End of Course Algebra I (La Vega High School)2323
   End of Course Algebra I (La Vega Independent School District (Isd))2323
   End of Course Algebra I (Texas)6245
 17%
End of Course Biology (La Vega High School)4632
 14%
   End of Course Biology (La Vega Independent School District (Isd))4632
 14%
   End of Course Biology (Texas)6357
 6%
End of Course English I Reading (La Vega High School)3534
 1%
   End of Course English I Reading (La Vega Independent School District (Isd))3534
 1%
   End of Course English I Reading (Texas)4954
 5%
End of Course English II Reading (La Vega High School)3943
 4%
   End of Course English II Reading (La Vega Independent School District (Isd))3943
 4%
   End of Course English II Reading (Texas)5156
 5%
End of Course U.S. History (La Vega High School)5548
 7%
   End of Course U.S. History (La Vega Independent School District (Isd))5548
 7%
   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 Students895882
 1.5%
African American283226
 20.1%
American Indian21
 50%
Asian11
Hispanic465543
 16.8%
Pacific Islander01
White12895
 25.8%
Two or More Races1615
 6.3%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients89.6%90.1%
 0.5%


Schools Near La Vega High School









Frequently Asked Questions about La Vega High School

In the 2023-24 school year, 877 students attended La Vega High School.

Students at La Vega High School are 61% Hispanic, 24% African American, 13% White, 1% Two or more races.

La Vega High School ranks 1457th of 1987 Texas high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.


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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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