Summary:
The Simms Independent School District (ISD) is served by a single elementary school, James Bowie Elementary, which educates 212 students in grades PK through 5 in a community where 65% of students are economically disadvantaged.
James Bowie Elementary is a school on a strong upward trajectory, having improved its state ranking from the 52nd percentile (3 stars) in 2023-2024 to the 78th percentile (4 stars) in 2025-2026. The school's greatest strength is mathematics, where it significantly outperforms state averages across all tested grades—3rd graders achieved 69.23% proficiency (nearly 25 points above the state), 4th graders hit 66.67% (17 points above), and 5th graders reached 52% (nearly 5 points above). Reading performance is also solid, with all three grade levels exceeding state averages, particularly 3rd grade at 65.38% proficiency (14 points above the state). A favorable student-teacher ratio of 12.4:1 and per-student spending of $10,341 suggest the school is using resources effectively to drive these gains.
The most critical area for improvement is 5th grade science, where only 10.34% of students were proficient in 2024-2025, compared to the state average of 29.57%—a stark contrast to the school's success in reading and math. Additionally, 5th grade performance shows some year-over-year volatility, with reading proficiency swinging from 44.83% in 2024-2025 to 60% in 2025-2026. For parents, this school offers a nurturing environment with strong foundational instruction in core subjects, but the science curriculum clearly needs immediate attention to match the high standards set in other areas.
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