Summary:
This analysis examines 13 elementary schools located within the city of Georgetown, Texas, serving grades PK-5 across four different school districts, revealing a significant performance divide linked to socioeconomic factors.
The most striking finding is the clear geographic and socioeconomic split in educational outcomes. Top-performing schools like Parkside Elementary (Leander ISD) and Rancho Sienna Elementary (Liberty Hill ISD) serve more affluent populations and achieve exceptional STAAR scores, with Parkside ranking in the top 10% of Texas elementary schools. Within Georgetown Independent School District (Isd), Jo Ann Ford Elementary stands out as a strong contender, achieving over 70% proficiency across all core subjects. In contrast, schools like Annie Purl Elementary and Williams Elementary serve high-poverty populations and consistently struggle, with Annie Purl ranking in the bottom 10% of Texas schools and posting math proficiency rates as low as 21% for 5th graders.
A key paradox is the inverse relationship between spending and performance. The three highest-spending schools—Frost Elementary ($14,136 per student), Annie Purl ($12,520), and Williams ($11,899)—are among the lowest-performing, while top performers like Parkside ($9,013) spend significantly less. This suggests that higher funding is a response to greater challenges, not a guarantee of success. Additionally, science proficiency is a systemic weakness across nearly all schools, with only Rancho Sienna (54.62%) and Parkside (45.12%) exceeding the state average of 29.57% in 2024-2025. For parents, this data highlights that school choice within Georgetown involves weighing factors like district boundaries, socioeconomic demographics, and individual school leadership, as exemplified by Jo Ann Ford's success within its district.
Thank you for your feedback!