Michael Elementary

Michael Elementary is a PK-5 public school in San Antonio, TX, serving 530 students within the Northside Independent School District (Isd), where about 78% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. After years of ranking in the bottom 15-25% of Texas elementary schools, the school has recently climbed to the 36th percentile—its highest ranking in a decade—driven by standout success with specific student groups.

The most remarkable finding is that Michael Elementary ranks in the 94th percentile for African American students, earning a 5-star rating, a huge leap from the 49th percentile just two years prior. This is a stark contrast to its overall ranking and suggests highly effective strategies are working for this group. The school also performs well with Gifted and Talented students (61st percentile) and Low Socio-Economic Status students (51st percentile). However, challenges remain: Math scores are a crisis, with only 23% of 5th graders proficient compared to 45% district-wide, and 5th Grade Science scores are critically low at just 6% proficiency. Just 0.39 miles away, Fisher Elementary serves a similar demographic but ranks significantly higher (57th percentile), outperforming Michael in nearly every subject—for example, 44% of Fisher’s 5th graders are proficient in Math versus Michael’s 23%.

Reading is a relative bright spot: 3rd graders at Michael actually exceeded both district and state averages in proficiency (53% vs. 52% and 51%, respectively). Yet, the school’s "At Risk" students have historically ranked in the 10th percentile, indicating that the most vulnerable learners are being left behind even as other groups improve. For parents, Michael Elementary offers a story of recent progress and targeted success, but also clear areas needing urgent attention, especially in Math and Science, with a high-performing neighbor providing a nearby model for what’s possible.