Schools in Kendrick, Waco, TX¶
School District¶
The entire Kendrick neighborhood is served by Waco Independent School District (WISD). There is no Midway ISD or other district overlap in this area.
Families should verify their assigned campus directly with Waco ISD at (254) 755-9411 or wacoisd.org.
Waco ISD District Rating (2025)¶
- TEA 2025 District Rating: D (score: 63/100) — 4th consecutive D (ratings released August 15, 2025)
- Domain scores: Student Achievement 60, School Progress 65, Closing the Gaps 58
- 13 of 15 elementary schools received failing marks for student achievement
- The district serves approximately 14,000 students across 25+ campuses
- A 5th consecutive D could trigger a TEA state takeover or other intervention
- Notable exception: Lake Air Montessori scored 78 — the highest of any Waco ISD campus
- See txschools.gov for individual campus ratings
Public Schools Serving Kendrick¶
| School | Address | Grades | TEA 2025 | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kendrick Elementary | 1801 Kendrick Lane, Waco, TX 76711 | PK–5 | Not yet rated (new campus, opened Aug 2025) | (254) 750-8770 |
| Cesar Chavez Middle School | 700 S. 15th St, Waco, TX 76706 | 6–8 | F (Niche: C; GreatSchools: 3/10) | (254) 750-3736 |
| University High School | 3201 S. New Rd, Waco, TX 76706 | 9–12 | C (score: 74; Niche: B) | (254) 750-9120 |
Note: Kendrick Elementary was brand new for the 2025–26 school year and had not yet received a TEA A–F campus rating as of the August 2025 rating release. Its predecessor campus (also called Kendrick Elementary, same site) had historically received D and F grades consistent with the district average.
Kendrick Elementary School¶
Address: 1801 Kendrick Lane, Waco, TX 76711 Website: ke.wacoisd.org Grades: Pre-K through 5th grade
The new Kendrick Elementary is the most significant capital investment in the Kendrick neighborhood in modern history. Key facts:
- Original campus built in 1952 at a cost of $373,559; welcomed 303 students its first year
- Old building demolished: early 2024, to make way for new construction on the same site
- Groundbreaking: May 2024
- Construction completion: ahead of schedule by May 2025
- First day of school (new campus): August 13, 2025
- Dedication ceremony: September 15, 2025
- Building size: 93,000 sq. ft., two-story
- Capacity: 750 students
- Cost: $47,440,657
- Funding: Part of the $355 million bond package approved by Waco voters in 2021
- Notable feature: Enclosed dining area, courtyard outside the library, modern two-tone brick veneer exterior
- Adjacent to Kendrick Park on Bagby Avenue — the school and park form the civic heart of the neighborhood
Sources: KWTX (Dec 2024); KWTX (Sep 2025); Waco ISD Bond Updates
Cesar Chavez Middle School¶
Address: 700 S. 15th St, Waco, TX 76706 Website: ccm.wacoisd.org Grades: 6–8 Enrollment (2023–24): 813 students TEA 2025: F — proficiency rates 23–39% vs. state average 52–54% (check txschools.gov) Niche Grade: C GreatSchools Rating: 3/10 Academic Profile: 19% of students scored at or above proficient in math; 32% at or above proficient in reading (2023–24 data)
University High School¶
Address: 3201 S. New Rd, Waco, TX 76706 Website: uhs.wacoisd.org Grades: 9–12 TEA 2025: Score 74 (C range) — rose one point from 2024, with highest improvement in the School Progress category Niche Grade: B U.S. News: Ranked nationally and statewide Feeder Schools: Kendrick Elementary, Alta Vista Elementary, Bell's Hill Elementary, South Waco Elementary → Cesar Chavez Middle → University High
University High School is located in the Alta Vista neighborhood, across I-35 from Kendrick, approximately 2 miles from the neighborhood center. It is the closest full-service high school for Kendrick students and is one of the better-performing campuses in Waco ISD.
Charter Schools (Waco Area)¶
Kendrick residents also have access to Waco-area public charter schools:
- Rapoport Academy Public School — charter school serving K–12; competitive admissions
- Harmony Science Academy Waco — 1900 N Valley Mills Dr, Waco, TX 76710
- Premier High School – Waco — alternative/credit recovery high school option
Private Schools (Waco Area)¶
There are no private K-12 schools directly within Kendrick. Options in the broader Waco area include:
- Bishop Louis Reicher Catholic School (PK–12)
- Vanguard College Preparatory School (6–12)
- Eagle Christian Academy (PK–12)
- St. Paul's Episcopal School (PK–6)
- Live Oak Classical School
Homeschooling Resources¶
- Texas Home School Coalition (THSC): thsc.org — advocacy, legal support, and group-finder tool
- Texas Home Educators (THE): statewide support organization
- TheHomeSchoolMom.com: lists local groups in Texas
Sources: Waco ISD (wacoisd.org), Texas Education Agency (tea.texas.gov), txschools.gov, KWTX, Waco Tribune-Herald, NeighborhoodScout, Niche.com, GreatSchools.org, Texas Tribune Schools Database.