Summary:
Laughlin AFB, Texas, is home to a single public elementary school, Roberto Bobby Barrera Elementary Stem Magnet, which serves grades PK through 5 with a small enrollment of 148 students and is part of the San Felipe-Del Rio Consolidated Independent School District.
As the only school in the area, Roberto Bobby Barrera Elementary Stem Magnet stands out for its strong academic performance relative to its district, though it has experienced a notable decline in state ranking over the past three years—dropping from a top-tier 5-star school (91st percentile) in 2023-2024 to a 3-star school (65th percentile) in 2025-2026. The school excels in reading, with all tested grades (3rd, 4th, and 5th) outperforming both district and state averages in the most recent year. Its 5th-grade science program is exceptional, with 69.23% of students proficient compared to just 14.67% for the district and 29.57% for the state. However, a concerning "math gap" has emerged, particularly in 3rd grade, where only 27.78% of students were proficient in math—well below the state average of 44.33%. The school benefits from a low free/reduced lunch rate of 14.86%, reflecting the stable economic circumstances of military families on the base, and maintains a favorable student-teacher ratio of 13.8:1.
Key takeaways for parents include the school's volatile math scores, which likely stem from small class sizes where a single cohort can dramatically swing percentages, making year-to-year comparisons less reliable. The declining state ranking warrants attention, but the school's historical excellence and standout science program suggest strong potential. With its small, supportive environment and unique military-connected demographic, Roberto Bobby Barrera Elementary Stem Magnet offers a focused educational experience that consistently outperforms its district, though parents should monitor the developing math challenges in lower grades.
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