Small District, Big Distinction
Red Lick ISD ranked ninth in the state of Texas. Let that sink in for a moment.
Not ninth among small districts. Not ninth in East Texas. Ninth in the entire state, according to SchoolDigger, competing against hundreds of districts with larger budgets, larger campuses, and far greater enrollment. For a district tucked along FM 2148 just outside Texarkana, that ranking is not just impressive. It reflects years of intentional decisions and a culture that refuses to settle for average.
Red Lick ISD serves students at Red Lick Elementary and Red Lick Middle School, and everything about the district points back to one core belief: students thrive when they are known. Small class sizes are not marketing language. They are policy. Teachers are able to recognize learning gaps early, celebrate strengths quickly, and build relationships that extend beyond a single school year. Students are not numbers in a system. They are names, families, personalities, and futures.
That personal approach produces measurable results. Independent ratings consistently place Red Lick ISD among the top-performing districts in Texas, and the elementary campus has been recognized among the highest-ranked in the state for academic achievement. Strong test scores, high teacher effectiveness ratings, and positive campus climate evaluations all reinforce what the community already knows: excellence here is not accidental.
Fourth-grade teacher Kelly Hadaway described Red Lick students as “caring” and “thoughtful,” calling them “a true joy and blessing.” That culture does not happen by accident. It is reinforced daily by educators who see their work as a calling and by families who stay involved. Walk the halls during a school event, and you will see parents volunteering, grandparents attending programs, and teachers greeting students by name.
That sense of trust between school and home is something families often discuss. As parent and Red Lick ISD Education Foundation President Bobbie Nell Ross shared, “Red Lick has been such a blessing to our family! Knowing my children are safe, loved, and encouraged to grow in every area of their lives is truly a gift to me as a mom.”
Red Lick ISD also invests in areas that demonstrate long-term commitment to its families. The district operates its own police department and maintains a full-time school nurse, underscoring a focus on safety and student health that rivals much larger districts. Classroom technology continues to be updated to prepare students for the demands of high school and beyond. Athletic programs and extracurricular activities provide opportunities for leadership, teamwork, and school pride, ensuring Mustang students are growing both academically and socially.
Despite its size, Red Lick ISD consistently competes at a level that districts many times larger struggle to reach. Its students transition successfully into area high schools, often continuing strong academic performance in advanced coursework and leadership roles. The foundation built in these early years clearly lasts.
Superintendent Brandon Dennard puts it simply: “At Red Lick ISD, we love our family, and we love our students. When people walk into our schools, we want them to feel that. Our staff cares deeply about every child, and that makes all the difference.”
And then there is the culture. Walk through the gym, and you see Mustang blue everywhere. You see families, teachers, and students side by side. The message is clear: this is a village.
Parents who choose Red Lick are choosing more than academic performance. They are choosing an environment where educators know their child’s strengths, notice when something feels off, and celebrate their wins loudly. They are choosing a district that has grown carefully and deliberately, protecting the very thing that makes it exceptional.
Small district. Big distinction.
Red Lick Independent School District
3511 North FM 2148
Texarkana, Texas 75503
903-838-8230
redlickisd.com
