Summary
Skinner Elementary in Brownsville, TX, is a PK-5 school in the Brownsville Independent School District (Isd) serving 344 students in a high-poverty area, where over 99% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. The school has recently shown a remarkable turnaround, jumping from the 27th percentile to the 44th percentile in state rankings over the past two years—its highest rank in over a decade. This improvement is especially notable compared to nearby schools like Canales Elementary, which has declined to the 9th percentile, and Putegnat Elementary, which has remained flat.
Skinner’s standout strength is mathematics, where 3rd graders achieved 61% proficiency and 5th graders 65% proficiency in the most recent year, significantly outperforming both the district and state averages. This math performance is the highest among nearby schools, including Sharp Elementary (39% in 3rd grade) and Canales (25% in 3rd grade). The school also invests heavily per student, spending $16,226 per student compared to $11,143 at Sharp and $10,718 at Canales, which may contribute to its recent gains. Additionally, Skinner excels with its low-socioeconomic status students, ranking in the 58th percentile for this subgroup, and shows a strong bilingual program, with 3rd graders taking Spanish exams achieving 83% proficiency in reading and 67% in math.
However, reading remains a significant weakness, with proficiency in all tested grades falling below district and state averages—4th grade reading at 36% is 16.5 points behind the district. The school’s Gifted and Talented program shows volatile results, swinging from the 92nd percentile to the 36th percentile in consecutive years, likely due to small class sizes. While Skinner is improving, it still lags behind high-performing outliers like Bryss Academy (87th percentile), which demonstrates that high achievement is possible in the same community. For parents, Skinner offers a promising math-focused education with strong support for bilingual and low-income students, but literacy development remains a key area for growth.
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