Cuero Online News | June 15, 2026
DEWITT COUNTY, Texas — June 2026. With the 2026 Texas Education Agency (TEA) accountability ratings still pending, families and community members are turning to the most recent available data to understand how local schools are performing. Alongside TEA’s official accountability dashboards, the independent school‑rating platform Niche provides another lens for evaluating academic proficiency, class size, and overall district quality.
A review of both sources shows a diverse performance landscape across Cuero ISD, Yoakum ISD, Yorktown ISD, and Westhoff ISD, with each district demonstrating unique strengths.
What Is Niche?
Niche is a national education‑data platform that compiles information from:
- State test scores
- Federal education data
- Parent and student reviews
- Teacher‑to‑student ratios
- College readiness indicators
- Community and demographic factors
Niche assigns grades and rankings to schools and districts to help families compare educational options. Unlike TEA, which focuses on accountability and growth, Niche blends academic data with community feedback and school environment indicators.
District‑by‑District Breakdown
Cuero ISD
Niche Summary:
- Students: 1,888
- Student–Teacher Ratio: 13:1
- Math Proficiency: 37%
- Reading Proficiency: 53%
- Overall Rating: Above Average
TEA Dashboard Highlights (Cuero High School):
- Overall Rating: B
- Student Achievement: B
- School Progress: B
- Academic Growth: F
- Closing the Gaps: A
- STAAR Meets: 58%
- STAAR Masters: 21%
- Graduation Rate: 98.6% (4‑year), 100% (5‑ and 6‑year)
Analysis: Cuero ISD shows strong academic performance at the high school level, especially in reading and advanced STAAR performance. The district’s biggest challenge is academic growth, where TEA scored Cuero High School an F. Graduation outcomes remain among the strongest in the region.
Yoakum ISD
Niche Summary:
- Students: 1,458
- Student–Teacher Ratio: 11:1
- Math Proficiency: 45%
- Reading Proficiency: 45%
- Overall Rating: Above Average
TEA Dashboard Highlights (Yoakum High School):
- Overall Rating: B
- Student Achievement: C
- School Progress: B
- Academic Growth: D
- Closing the Gaps: A
- STAAR Meets: 54%
- STAAR Masters: 14%
- Graduation Rate: 100% (5‑year), 99.1% (6‑year)
Analysis: Yoakum ISD performs consistently across subjects, with balanced math and reading proficiency. TEA data shows strong equity outcomes and progress, though academic growth remains an area to watch. Long‑term graduation rates are excellent.
Yorktown ISD
Niche Summary:
- Students: 574
- Student–Teacher Ratio: 11:1
- Math Proficiency: 47%
- Reading Proficiency: 53%
- Overall Rating: Average
TEA Dashboard Highlights (Yorktown ISD):
- Student Achievement: B
- School Progress: C
- Academic Growth: D
- Closing the Gaps: C
- STAAR Meets: 48%
- STAAR Masters: 16%
- Graduation Rate: 91.9% (4‑year), 100% (5‑year)
Analysis: Yorktown ISD posts solid proficiency scores, especially in reading, and maintains a strong 5‑year graduation rate. Growth and subgroup performance lag behind Cuero and Yoakum, but overall achievement remains competitive.
Westhoff ISD (Westhoff Elementary)
Niche Summary:
- Students: 85
- Student–Teacher Ratio: 11:1
- Math Proficiency: 81%
- Reading Proficiency: 83%
- Overall Rating: Top Rated
Context: Westhoff ISD is a small rural district with only 85 students and recently added its first year of high school. Its size creates a unique academic environment with extremely small class sizes.
Analysis: Westhoff stands out dramatically in proficiency rates, outperforming all other districts in both math and reading. Its small size may contribute to individualized instruction and higher mastery levels. As the district expands into high school grades, future TEA accountability ratings will provide a clearer picture of long‑term performance.
Countywide Comparison: Key Themes
Academic Proficiency (Niche Data)
- Westhoff leads by a wide margin (81% math, 83% reading).
- Yorktown and Cuero show similar reading proficiency (53%).
- Yoakum leads Cuero in math proficiency (45% vs. 37%).
Advanced Performance (TEA STAAR Masters)
- Cuero leads with 21%.
- Yorktown follows with 16%.
- Yoakum trails slightly at 14%.
Graduation Outcomes
- Cuero and Yoakum show near‑perfect long‑term graduation rates.
- Yorktown maintains strong 5‑year completion.
- Westhoff does not yet have high school graduation data.
Growth & Equity
- Yoakum and Cuero both earned A ratings in Closing the Gaps.
- Yorktown scored C, indicating more variability among student groups.
Overall Picture
DeWitt County’s school districts each bring different strengths to the table:
- Cuero ISD excels in advanced academics and graduation consistency.
- Yoakum ISD shows balanced proficiency and strong equity outcomes.
- Yorktown ISD performs solidly in proficiency but needs improvement in growth.
- Westhoff ISD, though small, posts the highest proficiency rates in the county.
As the community awaits the release of 2026 TEA ratings, these combined data sources offer a clear, multi‑angle view of how local schools are performing — and where future efforts may be focused.