ELLIS CO JJAEP

About Ellis Co Jjaep

Ellis County JJAEP is a small alternative school for grades seven through nine, operated by Red Oak ISD and located in Waxahachie. The school serves students who have been referred into the juvenile justice system or require alternative placement, making it a specialized intervention setting rather than a school for general enrollment.

The enrollment is very small, with fewer than five students total across the grade band. The student body is predominantly Hispanic, with a smaller representation of Black and white students. Because of the tiny enrollment and the alternative nature of the program, state testing data are not publicly reported; the school tested only a handful of students in the most recent assessment year, and those numbers fall below the threshold for reporting proficiency rates. Without a larger tested population, you cannot assess this school's academic performance through standardized metrics in the way you would a traditional public school.

The school does serve students in grades seven through nine, which means you would not expect traditional college-prep programming or a full course catalog. Instead, the focus is on academic recovery, behavioral support, and re-engagement. If your child has been referred to this placement, the strength of the program lies in its small size and specialization in serving a specific population, though a parent should discuss directly with the school what academic pathways, counseling, and transition support are available.

Red Oak ISD, the parent district, has undergone significant growth and has invested in capacity. The district opened a second middle school in January 2026 to relieve overcrowding, and voters approved a substantial bond in May 2025 for new facilities and career and technical education space. All students in Red Oak ISD receive free breakfast and lunch through the Community Eligibility Provision. The district has also lowered its property tax rate over recent years, a meaningful factor for families evaluating the cost of living in the area.

Waxahachie itself is one of the faster-growing suburbs south of Dallas, with a historic downtown courthouse square and increasingly suburban residential neighborhoods. The area is experiencing rapid population growth and new development, which is driving the district's capacity planning. Housing in the area is moderately priced relative to broader Texas markets, though property values have been appreciating.

For a family with a student in the juvenile justice system, this school represents a targeted intervention program. A parent should contact the school directly to understand the specific support services, academic structure, and transition pathways available, and to determine whether the program aligns with their child's needs and goals.