PALO DURO H S

Located at 1400 N GRANT, in AMARILLO, Texas, PALO DURO H S is a heavily attended senior high that hosts 1,949 students (grades 9 through 12), operated by AMARILLO ISD. Enrollment runs roughly 145% larger than the state mean of about 796.

Across the 55 schools in AMARILLO ISD (29,321 students total), PALO DURO H S accounts for its share of the district's footprint.

Looking at the student body, PALO DURO H S logs that the largest single group is Hispanic, at 60% of enrollment. The remainder reads as 18% Black, 10% White, 10% Asian, 2% multiracial. That is noticeably more Hispanic than the county at large, where the share is closer to 39%.

On the income-and-resources front, On paper, PALO DURO H S has 133 full-time-equivalent teachers, translating to a class-load average of around 14.6:1. The state averages about 15.1:1, putting this campus right in line with peers. Around 87% of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, a commonly cited indicator of low-income enrollment. Set against Potter County (around 74%), the school's rate is noticeably above typical.

On a residual basis (actual vs predicted given the student mix), PALO DURO H S is in the OUTPERFORMING tier of the BeatsExpectations model, which fits a per-state line through proficiency and FRL share. Schools with this campus's poverty mix typically land near 35.9%; this one delivers 52.1%, a residual of +16.3 points.

Zooming out to the county, the surrounding county (Potter County) reports that median household earnings sit near $53,249, about 19% of the adult population holds a bachelor's degree or above, and census figures put the poverty rate at about 15%. Across Potter County's 49 public schools (combined enrollment of about 21,501 students), PALO DURO H S is one campus in the mix.

Nearest neighbor: ROGERS EL, around 0.5 miles off. Counting just inside five miles, 8 other public schools cluster around PALO DURO H S. Among the 9 schools in that immediate cluster with test data (this one included), PALO DURO H S ranks 1st on composite proficiency, above the local average of 34.2%.

The campus sits in a downtown setting.

Looking at the recent track record. PALO DURO H S's enrollment has ticked down 3% since 2018, when it stood at 2,008 (now 1,949).

On the community side, members of the PALO DURO H S community share and discuss classroom updates, athletics, and weather closures. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.