Original Research by School Decision on Daep
DAEP is an alternative school operated by Shallowater Independent School District in Plainview, serving grades six through twelve. Alternative schools are designed to serve students who are not thriving in traditional classroom settings, often addressing academic, behavioral, or disciplinary needs through specialized instruction and typically smaller cohorts.
DAEP has an enrollment of about a handful of students spread across the grade span. The student body is evenly split between Hispanic and white students. State testing data for this school is not available; this is typical for alternative schools, where enrollment is often too small for the state to report proficiency metrics publicly, or where the school's population and purpose sit outside standard testing protocols. Similarly, graduation rates and chronic absenteeism metrics are not reported. A parent considering this placement should ask the school directly about outcomes: how many students successfully complete their programs, where they go after, and what academic and behavioral support structures are in place.
The school is located at 1200 Houston Street in Plainview, a West Texas county seat of mixed-use character. Plainview has a traditional downtown civic core with a courthouse square, library, and historic commercial district that has undergone revitalization in recent years. Most everyday commercial activity, however, occurs along the U.S. Highway 70 and Interstate 27 corridors to the west. The community is car-dependent outside downtown, and Plainview's population has declined slowly over recent years, though the city has invested in downtown improvements through bonds and state grants. Major employers include Wayland Baptist University, agricultural and food manufacturing, and distribution, with the economy shaped by education and agribusiness alongside retail and health care.
Shallowater ISD, DAEP's parent district, serves the Plainview area and surrounding communities. The district has been managing growth and facility needs through recent voter-approved bonds. In 2022, voters approved both a school-building bond and a stadium-renovation bond, signaling district investment in capacity. More recently, in May 2026, voters approved a bond covering construction of a new elementary school, classroom additions, and safety and security upgrades, while rejecting a separate stadium-renovation measure. These capital projects are funded through ad valorem property taxes repaid over time and reflect the district's commitment to adding and upgrading facilities.
DAEP's role within this context is as the district's alternative placement option. Because enrollment is very small and state testing data is suppressed, academic performance and proficiency information cannot be drawn from state metrics. A family exploring this school should have direct conversations with administration about the curriculum, instructional approach, the reasons students are referred or placed there, the support services available (counseling, mentoring, vocational training if applicable), and the transition and exit pathways. Alternative schools often serve students working through specific academic or behavioral challenges, and success depends heavily on the fit between the student's needs and the school's capacity to address them.
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