Summary
Taylor Elementary is a PK-5 school in Abilene, TX, serving 662 students within the Abilene Independent School District (Isd), where about 64% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. The school holds a 2-star rating, placing it in the 33rd percentile statewide for the 2025-2026 school year, but it stands out as one of the higher-performing schools in its district, outperforming nearby peers like Ortiz Elementary (3rd percentile) and Bowie Elementary (7th percentile).
A key strength is Taylor’s exceptional performance in 5th Grade Science, where 43.48% of students were proficient in 2024-2025—dramatically higher than the district average of 27.93% and even the state average of 29.57%. This consistent success, also seen in 2022-2023, suggests a particularly effective science curriculum or teacher. Additionally, the school shows a "bright spot" in 3rd Grade Reading, matching or exceeding the state average in three of the last four years, a feat not shared by most district peers. However, the school struggles with a significant performance gap for its low socioeconomic status (SES) students, who rank in the 5th percentile statewide, highlighting an equity challenge that contrasts with stronger results for other subgroups.
Taylor Elementary’s ranking history is volatile, with no 3-star rating since 2020-2021, indicating difficulty sustaining high performance. Interestingly, the school achieves relatively better results with lower per-student spending ($8,912) compared to lower-performing district schools like Martinez Elementary ($11,966), suggesting efficient operations. A stark contrast is Wylie East Intermediate in the neighboring Wylie Independent School District (Isd), just 4.73 miles away, where a more affluent population (23.7% free/reduced lunch) yields much higher test scores, underscoring the systemic hurdles Taylor faces.
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