Original Research by School Decision on Legacy H S
Legacy High School is a comprehensive four-year public high school in Midland, an oil-and-gas-driven West Texas city in the top tier of American per-capita incomes. The school sits in the western part of the city on Neely Avenue, part of Midland ISD, a district that just passed a historic bond to build two new comprehensive high schools by 2028. Legacy itself is poised for significant change when that reconfiguration happens.
The student body is predominantly Hispanic, with a White minority, and draws from across the city. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, marking a real economic spread among the families. The enrollment includes roughly the same number of juniors and seniors, but notably fewer ninth graders, a pattern that reflects the district's current use of a separate freshman campus for that grade.
Academic performance across all subjects is mixed and uneven by area. In science, students perform broadly well, with the vast majority reaching the basic proficiency level. Social studies shows similar strength at the foundational level, though very few students reach advanced mastery. English language arts and mathematics, by contrast, present softer results. In reading and writing, fewer than three-fifths of students meet basic proficiency, and mastery is rare. In math, about half of students reach basic proficiency, and only a small handful demonstrate advanced work. A parent may want to look into further details with the school about what support exists for students who are struggling in core subjects, and what acceleration looks like for those who are ready.
The school serves a community where housing values and rents are moderate relative to regional and national benchmarks, and the local economy centers on energy employers. Midland itself is car-dependent, highly dispersed, and not built for walking; daily life assumes personal transportation. The city has undertaken downtown revitalization and is investing in parks and public gathering spaces, but schools sit on standalone campuses away from that civic core.
The district is in the midst of a major facilities transition. In August 2028, a brand-new Legacy High School building will open, and the current building will convert to a middle school. At the same time, ninth graders will move from freshman-only campuses into the comprehensive high schools. This means the school's enrollment, building, program flow, and grade configuration will all change substantially within the next two years. For a family considering Legacy now, this transition is an immediate and permanent part of the picture.
See more original research from School Decision →