Schools in Waco, TX¶

Public Schools¶

Waco is served by several school districts, with the largest being the Waco Independent School District (WISD).

High Schools: Waco High School (new $157.1 million campus), University High School
Middle Schools: Cesar Chavez Middle School, G.W. Carver Middle School, Indian Spring Middle School, Lake Air Montessori Magnet, Tennyson Middle School
Elementary Schools: Numerous elementary schools, including Bell's Hill, Brook Avenue, Cedar Ridge, and the newly opened Kendrick Elementary (1801 Kendrick Lane, Waco, TX 76711 — new $47.4M campus, opened August 13, 2025; part of the 2021 $355M bond package).

Ratings for schools vary significantly by district. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) issues annual accountability ratings (A–F) for all public schools and districts in the state.
Waco ISD received a D (63) from the TEA in 2025 — down one point from the prior year. Of 20 rated schools, 9 improved their overall score. Lake Air Montessori School had the highest campus rating at 78. 13 of 15 elementary schools received failing marks for student achievement. South Waco Elementary has four consecutive years of failing grades and is under a state turnaround plan. The district did receive an A in financial accountability. Community support is expanding through the Communities in Schools program, now active on all WISD campuses.
Midway ISD consistently earns A or B ratings and is one of the highest-performing districts in the region. It is a strong draw for families settling in the southwest Waco/Hewitt/Woodway area.
China Spring ISD, Connally ISD, and Robinson ISD typically earn B ratings and are well-regarded options for families in those corridors.
Waco ISD has a number of magnet schools and special programs, including the ATLAS Academy for gifted and talented students and the Greater Waco Advanced Manufacturing Academy (GWAMA), which prepares students for technical careers.
For the most current TEA ratings, visit tea.texas.gov.

Waco has a wide variety of private school options:

Vanguard College Preparatory School (6-12): A highly-rated private school with a strong academic reputation.
Live Oak Classical School (PK-12): A Christian school with a classical education model.
Bishop Louis Reicher Catholic School (PK-12): A Catholic school serving the Waco area.
Eagle Christian Academy (PK-12)
St. Paul's Episcopal School (PK-6)
Waco Montessori School (PK-6)

Waco has a large and active homeschooling community with numerous resources:

Greater Waco Christian Home Educators (GWCHE): A large Christian homeschool support group.
Brazos Valley Co-op: A Christian homeschool co-op that meets weekly.
Alpha Omega Homeschool Co-op: A homeschool co-op with campuses in Lacy Lakeview and Robinson.
Waco Area Inclusive Homeschoolers: A secular and inclusive homeschool group.
Numerous other groups and co-ops for various interests and needs.

Sources: GreatSchools.org, Niche.com, Wikipedia.org, and other web search results.