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Palestine Texas - Clock Tower - Stuart WhitakerPhoto: TourismPTX · CC BY-SA 4.0
B−
Schools in Palestine · Palestine Independent School District, Westwood Independent School District

Palestine’s public schools outscore 54% of Texas districts

The grade covers the two public school districts serving Palestine, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Texas, not nationally.

#270of 642 Texas townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Texas state tests taken in spring 2022, when 100% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
47%
▼ 4 pts vs TX 51%
2021–22
Math proficiency
39%
▼ 2 pts vs TX 41%
2021–22
Graduate on time
97%
▲ 7 pts vs TX 90%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$14.5K
▲ 13% vs TX $12.8K
FY2024 · Palestine Independent
Students per teacher
13.7
TX 14.9 · smaller classes
Schools in town
12
4,573 students on the public path
In brief

Palestine’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 457 Texas towns with household incomes within a quarter of Palestine’s, its schools beat 65%, higher than their 54% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 47% of tested students were proficient in reading and 39% in math, against 51% and 41% statewide; 100% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

97% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 90% across Texas. Districts ↓

Spending and class size

Palestine Independent spends $14,544 per student and Westwood Independent $13,726, against $12,815 across Texas (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

Choice beyond the district

Ut Tyler University Academy at Palestine and Christian Heritage Academy (private) are in town. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Palestine’s grade

B− Test scoresB− Graduation

B−: better than 54% of Texas school districts, #270 of 642 Texas towns. Graduation is above the Texas average; test scores are below it.

Texas school districts we grade (1,191)Better than 54%
Lower resultsHigher results
Texas towns with similar household incomes (457)Better than 65%
C+BA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 2,465 test results and a graduating class of 227 could put Palestine anywhere from C+ to B. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Palestine’s students in the tested grades sat them (2,429 in math, 2,501 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Palestine, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–22 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressNo scores
3–62 schoolsDepends on your addressC− to C+
7–82 middle schoolsDepends on your addressB to B+
9–122 high schoolsDepends on your addressC to B+

Palestine runs its own schools through grade 12 (Palestine Independent School District). From grade PK, students attend the Westwood Independent School District. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Palestine

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Palestine Independent School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 6 schools · 3,186 students, down 6% since 2020–21 · 14.2 per teacher (TX 14.9)
$14,544TX $12,815 · FY2024
B
Westwood Independent School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 4 schools · 1,387 students, up 3% since 2020–21 · 12.7 per teacher (TX 14.9)
$13,726TX $12,815 · FY2024
B−
Test scores · 2021–22

Below the state in reading

Reading · PK–12, Palestine Independent School District48%
State average 51.1% · 1752 students tested
Math · PK–12, Palestine Independent School District42%
State average 40.9% · 1710 students tested
Reading · PK–12, Westwood Independent School District45%
State average 51.1% · 749 students tested
Math · PK–12, Westwood Independent School District33%
State average 40.9% · 719 students tested

Palestine vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Texas towns that share Palestine’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
PalestineB−Palestine Independent PK–12 · Westwood Independent PK–12

Every school in Palestine

12 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Texas’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Palestineby address
Westwood Pri
Elementary · Grades PK–2
378 students17:1Rate it →
Washington Early Childhood Center
Prekindergarten · Grades PK
215 students20:1Rate it →
Northside Pri
Elementary · Grades K–1
400 students15:1Rate it →
Southside El
Elementary · Grades 2–3
C+
442 students14:1Rate it →
Westwood El
Elementary · Grades 3–6
C−
404 students14:1Rate it →
Story Int
Middle · Grades 4–6
C+
670 students16:1Rate it →
Palestine J H
Middle · Grades 7–8
B+
456 students13:1Rate it →
Westwood J H
Middle · Grades 7–8
B
200 students10:1Rate it →
Palestine H S
High · Grades 9–12
B+
1,003 students13:1Rate it →
Westwood H S
High · Grades 9–12
C
405 students11:1Rate it →
Charter schoolsfree, open by application
Ut Tyler University Academy at Palestine
Grades K–12
A−
Charter
263 students14:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Christian Heritage Academy
Elementary · Grades K–8
Private · Religious
75 students4:1Rate it →

Left off: 1 public program with fewer than 25 students (Elkhart Daep).

Questions about Palestine’s schools

Are Palestine’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of Texas: the public schools Palestine children attend outscore 54% of Texas’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B− Schools grade, #270 of 642 Texas towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 65%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Palestine in?

Two districts: Palestine Independent School District runs grades PK–12, and Westwood Independent School District runs grades PK–12.

Where do Palestine kids go to high school?

One of 2 high schools, depending on your address: Palestine H S and Westwood H S.

What is Palestine’s graduation rate?

97% of the class of 2023 in Palestine Independent School District graduated in four years, against 90% across Texas.

How much does Palestine spend per student?

$14,544 in Palestine Independent School District and $13,726 in Westwood Independent School District (FY2024), against $12,815 across Texas. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Palestine?

Yes: Christian Heritage Academy (religious, grades K–8, 75 students). Palestine also has 1 charter school, free and open by application.

Parents talk

What Palestine families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Palestine → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Texas. Stars are from neighbors.