Elementary Schools in Terrell Independent School District (Isd)

The Terrell Independent School District (Isd) oversees four elementary schools serving students in the area, and the data reveals a dramatic split between one exceptional school and three that are struggling significantly. Global Leadership Academy stands out as a top-tier school, ranking in the 97th percentile statewide with a 5-star rating for three consecutive years, while J W Long Elementary, Gilbert Willie Senior Elementary, and Dr Bruce Wood Elementary all rank in the bottom 10th percentile, earning 0 or 1-star ratings. This extreme performance gap means the district's overall low ranking (17th percentile) masks the success of Global Leadership Academy, which serves a smaller enrollment of 219 students compared to the other schools' enrollments of 655 to 681 students.

Key metrics highlight the differences driving these outcomes. Global Leadership Academy has the highest per-student spending at $12,099 and the lowest student-teacher ratio at 16.2:1, while the other three schools spend between $10,380 and $11,552 per student and have ratios from 17.4:1 to 18.3:1. The poverty rates, measured by free/reduced lunch eligibility, are high across the district, but Global Leadership Academy serves a lower rate of 52.51% compared to the 79.44% to 83.31% range at the other schools. This shows that while poverty is a factor, it does not prevent academic excellence, as Global Leadership Academy achieves 87.5% proficiency in 5th Grade Reading versus the district's 37.04% average.

Several findings demand attention for parents. Dr Bruce Wood Elementary has experienced a sharp decline, dropping from the 27th percentile in 2023-2024 to the 9th percentile in 2025-2026, signaling a need for investigation. Science scores are a critical weakness district-wide, with the 2024-2025 average at only 20.68% proficient, and Gilbert Willie Senior Elementary posting a catastrophic 4.58% proficiency in 5th Grade Science. For parents, Global Leadership Academy offers a clear path to high performance, while the other schools face significant challenges that require close monitoring and support.