Driggers Elementary

Driggers Elementary is a PK-5 school in San Antonio, TX, serving 458 students within the Northside Independent School District (Isd), and it has experienced a significant decline in academic performance over the past decade, now ranking in the 30th percentile statewide despite serving a high-poverty community where 77% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

One of the most striking findings is a large gender performance gap: female students rank in the 51st percentile, while male students rank in the 13th percentile—a 38-point difference that is the largest among nearby schools. This suggests the school’s approach may not be effectively supporting its male students. On a positive note, the school’s bilingual program shows exceptional strength: 3rd-grade students taking the STAAR Reading test in Spanish achieved a 60% proficiency rate, nearly double the district average of 32.59%. However, this success does not extend to other subjects, as 3rd-grade Spanish Math proficiency was 0% in the same year. Science scores are also a critical weakness, with only 4.48% of 5th graders proficient, the lowest among peer schools like Timberwilde Elementary (9.09%) and well below the state average of 29.57%.

Despite higher per-student spending ($11,843) and a favorable student-to-teacher ratio of 11.1:1—the best among nearby schools—academic outcomes remain low, raising questions about resource allocation. For comparison, the closest school, Leon Valley Elementary (0.99 miles away), serves a similar demographic but achieves a 52nd percentile ranking, indicating that challenges at Driggers are likely tied to school-specific practices rather than student population alone. While the school performs relatively well for its White students (61st percentile) and Gifted and Talented students (57th percentile), it struggles to meet the needs of its majority demographic, including Hispanic and low socioeconomic status students.