Summary
Hatchett Elementary in San Antonio, TX, serves 588 students in grades PK-5 as part of the Northside Independent School District (Isd), and has consistently ranked in the bottom 20% of Texas elementary schools for several years, despite a favorable student-to-teacher ratio of 12.3:1 and a high-poverty population where about 80% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.
The most critical issue at Hatchett is a severe deficiency in math, with proficiency rates in 2025-2026 ranging from just 23.5% in 3rd grade to 32.9% in 4th grade—roughly 15-20 percentage points below both district and state averages. This is a persistent trend, with 3rd-grade math proficiency hovering around 20% for three years. In contrast, reading scores, while below average, are not as dire (37-45% proficient). Interestingly, the school shows a remarkable strength in its Gifted and Talented (G/T) program, which ranked in the 58th percentile statewide, earning a 3-star rating. This creates a paradox where the school excels with its top-tier students but struggles with the general population, particularly Hispanic students and those from low socio-economic backgrounds. Nearby schools like Murnin Elementary (56th percentile) and Evers Elementary (40th percentile) perform significantly better, while Adams Hill Elementary (6th percentile) ranks lower.
Hatchett’s performance is especially striking when compared to Idea Mays Academy, a nearby charter school serving a similar demographic (76% free/reduced lunch) but with larger class sizes (20:1 vs. 12.3:1). Idea Mays consistently outperforms Hatchett, ranking in the 64th percentile in 2024-2025 while Hatchett was in the 10th percentile. This suggests that smaller class sizes at Hatchett are not translating into better outcomes. Additionally, Hatchett’s per-student spending ($10,310) is higher than some better-performing peers like Murnin ($9,289) and Evers ($9,791), indicating that funding alone is not the issue. The school’s trajectory is also concerning: a decade ago, it ranked in the 60th percentile, but it has steadily declined to the 17th percentile by 2025-2026, pointing to a need for a fundamental strategic shift.
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