Original Research by School Decision on Howe H S
Howe High School is a small public school in the Howe school district in Grayson County, serving about three hundred and sixty-five students in grades nine through twelve. Enrollment is fairly stable across the grade levels, with a slightly larger freshman cohort than graduating seniors.
The school's student body is majority white, with a sizable Hispanic population making up roughly a quarter of enrollment. About two-fifths of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating moderate economic need in the attendance zone.
On state testing, Howe High showed broad but uneven results in the most recent year. Students performed well across all subjects at the approaches level, meaning they demonstrated basic knowledge. In math, approaches performance was strong. Science and social studies were especially solid at the approaches level. When the bar rises to the "meets" proficiency threshold, the picture becomes more mixed. Science was the strongest subject, with a substantial majority of students meeting that standard. Social studies also performed well at the meets level. English language arts and math dropped noticeably at the meets level, with math particularly low there. At the highest level, mastery, performance across all subjects was modest, with science standing out as the school's clearest strength.
The school sits in a region experiencing rapid residential growth. Howe ISD recently passed a bond measure that funds facility expansions to handle projected enrollment increases, including a major build-out of the elementary school and high school improvements. The district's voters approved the bond at what publicly reported sources described as strong support, and it raises property taxes for district residents, including those with addresses in surrounding towns like Sherman, Gunter, and Van Alstyne who live within district boundaries. Housing values in the Howe zip code are near the state average and below the national average, making it a relatively affordable market for the region.
The data provided did not include information about advanced course offerings, dual-credit or career pathways, discipline rates, attendance, or special-education enrollment and English-learner enrollment. A parent considering this school may want to reach out to the school directly about these programs and support systems. State testing data from prior years was also not available, so trend information was not possible. The school's academic profile reflects students with basic to solid competency in most areas, with science emerging as a particular strength. A parent should view this school in context of the high school options available within the county and the community's plans for growth.
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