Goliad Elementary

Goliad Elementary in Odessa, TX, serves 565 students in grades K-5 within the Ector County Independent School District (Isd), operating in a high-poverty area where nearly 90% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

Goliad Elementary stands out for its exceptional bilingual education program. While its English-language STAAR scores are below district and state averages, its Spanish-language STAAR scores are often significantly higher. For example, in 5th grade reading (Spanish), Goliad scored 61% proficient compared to the district's 31% and state's 33%. This pattern holds across math and science, suggesting the school is highly effective at developing foundational skills in students' native language. This strength is particularly notable when compared to nearby schools like Noel Elementary, Dowling Elementary, and Sam Houston Elementary, which generally perform at or below district averages in Spanish assessments. The school's English Language Learner (ELL) students rank in the 37th percentile statewide, a remarkable achievement for a school that ranks in the 8th percentile overall.

The contrast with nearby El Magnet At Reagan Elementary, a top-performing magnet school just 2.55 miles away, highlights the impact of socioeconomic factors on school performance. Reagan serves a much lower percentage of economically disadvantaged students (43% vs. Goliad's 90%) and scores dramatically higher on state assessments. Goliad's performance has been volatile, with a notable improvement to the 22nd percentile in 2022-2023 followed by a drop, suggesting the school has capacity for better outcomes but faces challenges common in high-poverty schools, such as student mobility and staff turnover. The school's per-student spending ($10,166) is moderate compared to peers like Dowling ($12,335), indicating that resource allocation alone doesn't explain the performance gap.