Summary:
The Pflugerville Independent School District (Isd) is home to 22 elementary schools serving Pre-Kindergarten through 5th grade, with enrollments ranging from 372 to 765 students, and the district itself ranks in the 49th percentile of all Texas school districts, indicating performance slightly below the state average.
The district presents a clear tale of two extremes. At the top, Murchison Elementary and Riojas Elementary are standout performers, earning 5-star ratings for multiple consecutive years and ranking in the top 8-9% of Texas elementary schools. For example, Murchison’s 4th graders achieved 87.2% proficiency in Math, far exceeding the district average of 49.11%. In contrast, Dessau Elementary and Northwest Elementary have received 0-star ratings for three consecutive years, with test scores drastically below district averages—such as Dessau’s 3rd graders achieving only 13.25% proficiency in Math. A strong correlation exists between socioeconomic status and performance: schools with high free/reduced lunch (FRL) rates, like Copperfield Elementary (90.3% FRL), tend to struggle, while those with low FRL rates, like Murchison (13.36% FRL), excel. However, Ruth Barron Elementary is an outlier, achieving a 2-star rating despite an 89.02% FRL rate, suggesting effective strategies are in place.
Interestingly, higher per-student spending does not guarantee success. The lowest-performing schools, Northwest ($14,232) and River Oaks Elementary ($12,864), have the highest spending, while top performers like Mott Elementary ($8,538) spend far less. Additionally, several schools administer the STAAR test in Spanish, and proficiency rates on these tests are significantly lower than on English tests, highlighting a need for stronger English Language Learner support. Overall, the district’s wide achievement gap means parents should carefully compare schools, as a small cluster of high-performing schools contrasts sharply with many that face profound challenges.
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