Summary:
The Spearman Independent School District (Isd) is home to a single elementary school, Gus Birdwell Elementary, which serves students from Pre-Kindergarten through 5th grade in the Spearman, Texas area. With a total enrollment of 343 students and a favorable student-teacher ratio of 11.8:1, the school provides a setting that allows for more individualized attention. The district itself is ranked 293rd out of 951 districts in Texas, earning a 3-star rating, while the elementary school has consistently outperformed this, maintaining a 4-star rating for three consecutive years and ranking in the 80th percentile statewide in the 2023-2024 school year.
Key metrics reveal a school that excels in certain areas while facing challenges in others. A standout finding is the exceptional performance of 5th-grade students, who consistently beat state averages in both Reading and Mathematics. For the 2025-2026 school year, 69.23% of 5th graders were proficient in Reading (compared to the state average of 58.47%) and 69.23% were proficient in Math (compared to 47.38% statewide). This suggests the school’s curriculum is particularly effective in preparing students for upper elementary grades. However, there is significant year-over-year volatility in 3rd and 4th grade Math scores, with 4th grade Math jumping from 45% proficiency in 2025-2026 to 67.27% in 2024-2025, likely due to small class sizes where a few students can heavily skew results.
Despite serving a population where 66.47% of students are economically disadvantaged, Gus Birdwell Elementary consistently ranks in the 70th to 80th percentile statewide, indicating strong teaching and leadership. While 5th-grade Science scores (39.53% proficient) were well above the state average of 29.57% in 2024-2025, they lag behind the school’s own Reading and Math scores, presenting a clear opportunity for improvement. Overall, this school demonstrates a pattern of high performance in core subjects, particularly in the upper grades, despite economic challenges.
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