Original Research by School Decision on Richard Milburn Academy Corpus Christi
Richard Milburn Academy Corpus Christi is a charter alternative high school serving grades nine through twelve, located on South Staples Street. It is part of a statewide open-enrollment dropout-recovery operator that runs nine campuses. The Corpus Christi campus relocated to a new building in 2024, marking an expansion of the facility to accommodate more students.
The school's enrollment is small, drawing students who are at risk of not graduating from traditional high schools. A large majority of enrolled students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic circumstances of the families served. The student body is predominantly Hispanic, with smaller numbers of white students and other racial groups represented.
Academic proficiency across tested subjects is low overall. In reading, students show low attainment, with no students reaching the highest proficiency level. Math proficiency is similarly low, with no students meeting or mastering grade-level standards. Science shows the strongest results, with most students reaching at least the baseline proficiency level, though advanced performance remains rare. Social studies proficiency is also relatively high at the baseline level, though few students advance beyond it. The pattern across all subjects is one of students clustering at the lowest passing threshold, with virtually no advancement to higher achievement bands. State testing data and graduation rates specific to this campus were not available for review.
The school operates without a local property tax obligation, as charter schools are funded through state per-pupil allotments rather than district levies. This means families relocating to the area to access this school do not face a school-district property tax tied to it.
Beginning in the 2025-26 school year, all Richard Milburn Academy campuses provide free breakfast to every student under the National School Breakfast Program. This removes a recurring meal cost for families who enroll.
The program is explicitly designed as an alternative pathway for students who have struggled in or left traditional high schools. It is a credit-recovery and re-engagement model rather than a comprehensive academic high school. Parents considering this school should understand that the low proficiency levels reflect the starting point and prior educational disruption of the students it enrolls, not the school's academic standards relative to its mission. For a family whose child has fallen behind or disengaged from a traditional setting, the alternative structure, flexible scheduling, and targeted recovery approach may be a fit; for families seeking strong baseline academic achievement across all students, this setting would not match that goal.
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