Summary
Allison Elementary is a PK-6 campus in the Austin Independent School District (Isd), serving 362 students in a high-poverty area on the east side of Austin. The school has experienced a severe and sustained academic decline over the past decade, dropping from the 58th percentile statewide in 2015-2016 to the 0th percentile in the most recent 2025-2026 ranking, making it one of the lowest-performing elementary schools in Texas. Over 90% of students are economically disadvantaged, and the school’s test scores are critically low across nearly every grade and subject, with proficiency rates like 17.95% in 3rd-grade reading and 9.09% in 4th-grade math.
This performance is especially stark when compared to nearby schools serving similar demographics. For example, Blackshear Elementary, just 2.82 miles away, ranks in the 49th percentile and achieves a 3rd-grade reading proficiency of 56.76%—more than triple Allison’s rate. Other peers like Ortega Elementary and Zavala Elementary also show significantly higher scores, such as Ortega’s 77.27% in 5th-grade reading versus Allison’s 13.51%. This pattern holds across all student subgroups, including Hispanic, low-income, and gifted students, all of whom rank in the 0th percentile, indicating a systemic failure rather than an isolated issue.
Despite spending a relatively high $13,908 per student—more than Blackshear’s $10,677—Allison’s resources are not translating into academic results. An interesting anomaly is its performance on Spanish-language STAAR tests, where 5th graders scored 50% proficient in 2022-2023, far exceeding district and state averages, suggesting stronger foundational literacy in Spanish that isn’t carrying over to English. The school’s trajectory shows volatility, with a slight uptick in 2024-2025 followed by a sharp drop in 2025-2026, pointing to a lack of consistent instructional strategy. For parents, this school requires urgent attention, and nearby options like Blackshear demonstrate that better outcomes are possible even in high-poverty settings.
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