Original Research by School Decision on Richard Milburn Academy Lubbock
Richard Milburn Academy Lubbock is a charter alternative school serving grades 9 through 12 and operating as part of a statewide open-enrollment network focused on dropout recovery and credit completion. The school sits at 2333 50th Street in Lubbock, in a community anchored by Texas Tech University, healthcare, and agriculture.
The student body is small, with enrollment concentrated across the four high school grades. The majority of students come from low-income backgrounds, with a substantial share qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. The student population is predominantly Hispanic, with meaningful representation of Black and white students and smaller numbers of students from other racial and ethnic backgrounds. The school's makeup reflects its mission: it serves students who are at risk of dropping out or who have already fallen behind in credits, a population that differs markedly from a traditional comprehensive high school's enrollment.
Academically, state test results show uneven performance across subjects. In English and mathematics, proficiency levels are low. In science and social studies, students perform notably higher. No students achieved mastery performance in English or mathematics, and mastery rates were minimal across the board. The school's one available data point from 2024-25 is a single snapshot, so trajectory is not yet visible. Because this is an alternative and credit-recovery program by design, parents should understand that state test proficiency rates are not the primary metric by which such schools are evaluated. Graduation rates and credit completion are the relevant outcome measures, but specific numbers were not available in the data provided.
The school does not report separate data on students receiving special education services or identified as English learners, gaps that leave some detail about the student population unclear; a parent may want to ask the school directly about these populations.
District-wide, Richard Milburn operates as a dropout-recovery charter with no local property tax obligation for families in its service area. Beginning in the 2025-26 school year, the charter is providing free breakfast to all students regardless of income through the Universal Breakfast Program. The broader charter network earned an overall accountability rating of C for 2024-25. The district's low statewide graduation rate reflects its explicit mission as a credit-recovery program rather than underperformance for its intended population.
Lubbock itself is a moderate-growth city with a steady increase in residents over recent years, anchored by Texas Tech, healthcare employment, and agriculture. Downtown is undergoing an active revitalization, with new housing and business investment. The housing market there is relatively affordable compared to state and national benchmarks. The city is car-dependent overall but has pockets of walkability in central neighborhoods. Public transit through Citibus serves fixed routes and on-demand service, and students get free rides with a Texas Tech ID.
For a family weighing this school, the relevant question is whether an alternative, credit-recovery model fits a student who has fallen behind or is at high risk of dropout. The low income profile and free breakfast are structural realities of the population served. Low state test proficiency does not mean the school is failing its mission; it reflects the academic starting point of students who enroll.
See more original research from School Decision →