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Ortega Elementary

Q: Is Ortega Elementary a good school?

Ortega Elementary ranks 2024 th of 4627 Texas elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-6

2024^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 4,627 Texas Elementary Schools

Better than 56% of Texas elementary schools

Summary

Ortega Elementary is a PK-6 school in the Austin Independent School District (Isd) serving 242 students in a high-poverty area, where about 89% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. This school stands out as a beacon of positive momentum in a challenging neighborhood, having recently rebounded to the 56th percentile (3 stars) in the 2025-2026 school year. This is a dramatic turnaround from its low of the 22nd percentile just a few years prior, and it shines compared to nearby schools like Harris Elementary (6th percentile), Norman-Sims Elementary (1st percentile), Govalle Elementary (1st percentile), and Oak Springs Elementary (0th percentile), all of which remain in the bottom 10% of Texas schools.

One of the most exciting findings is a pocket of excellence in 5th grade reading, where 77.27% of students were proficient in 2025-2026—far above the district (65.12%) and state (58.47%) averages. This is a huge leap from the previous year's 31.25%, suggesting a specific intervention or a uniquely strong cohort is driving success. The school also excels in supporting its Special Education students, ranking in the 78th percentile (4 stars) for serving them, a massive improvement from the 14th percentile two years prior. However, results can be inconsistent: 4th graders excelled in math (71.43% proficient), while 3rd and 5th graders struggled, hinting that a standout teacher in 4th grade may be making a difference.

Ortega invests heavily in its students, spending over $13,000 per pupil and maintaining a very low student-to-teacher ratio of 8.5:1—more resources than the nearby University Of Texas Elementary Charter School, which spends less ($12,085) and has a higher ratio (13.8:1) yet outperforms Ortega in most metrics. This suggests the school's challenges are not about money or class size but may relate to instructional quality or the high mobility of its student population. The bilingual program shows promise in early grades, with 3rd graders scoring higher on the Spanish STAAR (37.5%) than the district (20.4%) and state (28.3%), though support seems to drop off by 5th grade. Overall, Ortega is a school on the rise, offering hope and strong outcomes in a neighborhood where many schools are struggling.

242

Students ?

8.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$15,501

Per pupil spending ?

88.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1135 Garland Ave
Austin, TX 78721-2699

(512) 414-4417

District: Austin Independent School District (Isd)

Students who attend Ortega Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Martin Middle
High:	Eastside Early College High School

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

72.7%

African American:

19.0%

White:

7.9%

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Compare Ortega Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 22nd percentile in 2021 → 56th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 56th (2026) from a 22nd-percentile low (2021)

✓Above the Texas median (56th percentile)

✓Small classes — about 8 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Texas average (44% vs 50% meeting standards)

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school44%

District avg52%

Texas avg50%

2,024^th of 4,627

Texas public elementary schools ?

Top 44%▼ down 20 pts since 2016

From top 24% (2016) to top 44% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Texas Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

35^th of 77Elementary Schools in the Austin Independent School District (Isd)

523^rd of 951Austin Independent School District (Isd) among Texas districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	51.8	2024 of 4627	56.3%	★★★☆☆
2025	26.7	3627 of 4651	22.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	28.9	3529 of 4710	25.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	43.8	2546 of 4647	45.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	54.5	1893 of 4581	58.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	23.8	3591 of 4578	21.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	44.0	2426 of 4479	45.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	59.9	1488 of 4359	65.9%	★★★☆☆
2017	53.5	1784 of 4329	58.8%	★★★☆☆
2016	74.4	1021 of 4286	76.2%	★★★★☆
2015	76.1	951 of 4320	78.0%	★★★★☆
2014	79.8	727 of 4260	82.9%	★★★★☆
2013	81.2	596 of 4221	85.9%	★★★★☆
2012	77.4	778 of 4206	81.5%	★★★★☆
2011	69.4	1223 of 4095	70.1%	★★★★☆
2010	77.9	595 of 3937	84.9%	★★★★☆
2009	70.5	1066 of 3884	72.6%	★★★★☆
2008	67.0	1240 of 3768	67.1%	★★★☆☆
2007	55.3	1940 of 3724	47.9%	★★☆☆☆
2006	45.1	2279 of 3476	34.4%	★★☆☆☆
2005	57.8	1634 of 3475	53.0%	★★★☆☆
2004	43.2	2341 of 3465	32.4%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2019	81.1	259 of 2515	89.7%	★★★★☆
2018	83.9	222 of 2483	91.1%	★★★★★

At Risk

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2022	49.1	2156 of 4461	51.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	32.3	3182 of 4331	26.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	67.0	939 of 4295	78.1%	★★★★☆
2018	78.0	481 of 4240	88.7%	★★★★☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2025	19.9	2608 of 2918	10.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	26.9	2981 of 3668	18.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	39.8	2276 of 3556	36.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	54.2	1411 of 3487	59.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	23.4	3035 of 3446	11.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	67.7	732 of 3333	78.0%	★★★★☆
2018	81.4	300 of 3226	90.7%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	49.3	2140 of 4575	53.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	22.3	3184 of 3744	15.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	28.6	3576 of 4658	23.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	42.5	2642 of 4588	42.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	59.1	1605 of 4561	64.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	37.1	2735 of 4499	39.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	47.6	2195 of 4348	49.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	57.2	1634 of 4306	62.1%	★★★☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2022	66.6	1020 of 2958	65.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	41.9	2330 of 3184	26.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	69.6	901 of 3106	71.0%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	51.7	1966 of 4413	55.4%	★★★☆☆
2025	21.6	3198 of 3644	12.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	29.8	3438 of 4465	23.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	49.1	2112 of 4401	52.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	52.2	1944 of 4376	55.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	21.4	3810 of 4329	12.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	51.1	1912 of 4188	54.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	60.7	1326 of 4168	68.2%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	51.5	2017 of 4520	55.4%	★★★☆☆
2025	20.7	3338 of 3705	9.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	30.3	3572 of 4594	22.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	46.4	2432 of 4521	46.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	58.2	1593 of 4477	64.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	27.3	3573 of 4451	19.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	57.0	1566 of 4309	63.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	71.1	819 of 4264	80.8%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	57.6	1682 of 4582	63.3%	★★★☆☆
2025	16.6	3410 of 3739	8.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	34.2	3180 of 4647	31.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	45.5	2420 of 4585	47.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	45.9	2383 of 4563	47.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	14.2	4225 of 4498	6.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	42.5	2486 of 4357	42.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	59.8	1489 of 4319	65.5%	★★★☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2019	33.3	818 of 1112	26.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	59.2	420 of 1046	59.8%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	64.0	964 of 4301	77.6%	★★★★☆
2025	25.0	2978 of 3549	16.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	23.0	3693 of 4292	14.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	51.1	1576 of 4086	61.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	37.8	2440 of 3952	38.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	22.0	3406 of 3799	10.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	81.7	269 of 3684	92.7%	★★★★★
2018	53.4	1225 of 3558	65.6%	★★★☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

African American (2019)90th percentile+44 vs school

Special Education (2026)78th percentile+21 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2022)66th percentile+7 vs school

Male (2026)63rd percentile+7 vs school

Hispanic (2026)55th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)55th percentile~ school

Female (2026)53rd percentile-3 vs school

At Risk (2022)52nd percentile-7 vs school

Multi-racial (2019)26th percentile-19 vs school

English Language Learner (2025)11th percentile-11 vs school

By subject vs Texas (2025-2026) ?

Reading54%~ state avg

Mathematics48%~ state avg

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Schools Near Ortega Elementary

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				STAAR Spanish Reading (2026)			STAAR Spanish Mathematics (2026)		STAAR Reading (2026)				STAAR Mathematics (2026)				Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	STAAR Spanish Reading 3rd Grade	STAAR Spanish Reading 4th Grade	STAAR Spanish Reading 5th Grade	STAAR Spanish Mathematics 3rd Grade	STAAR Spanish Mathematics 4th Grade	STAAR Reading 3rd Grade	STAAR Reading 4th Grade	STAAR Reading 5th Grade	STAAR Reading 6th Grade	STAAR Mathematics 3rd Grade	STAAR Mathematics 4th Grade	STAAR Mathematics 5th Grade	STAAR Mathematics 6th Grade	Total
Ortega Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	1135 Garland Ave	Austin	78721	Travis County	Austin Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(512) 414-4417	242	28	8.5	88.8%	19 (7.9%)	46 (19.0%)	176 (72.7%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	51.8	2024^th of 4627 public elementary schools	56.3%		26.7	3627^th of 4651 public elementary schools	22.0%	1603	37.5	20.0	0.0	0.0	40.0	37.5	35.7	77.3		37.5	71.4	41.7		$15,501
Harris Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1203 Springdale Rd	Austin	78721	Travis County	Austin Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(512) 414-2085	285	23	12.3	91.6%	7 (2.5%)	28 (9.8%)	240 (84.2%)	6 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.4%)	13.9	4345^th of 4627 public elementary schools	6.1%		17.2	4175^th of 4651 public elementary schools	10.2%	170	13.3	27.3	30.8		0.0	18.2	29.2	40.7		12.1	38.1	22.5		$13,322
Idea Health Professions Academy	Public, Charter	K-5	5816 Wilcab Rd	Austin	78721	Travis County	Idea Public Schools	Yes	No	(n/a)	Yes	(512) 822-4350	294	15	19.7	90.8%	10 (3.4%)	49 (16.7%)	229 (77.9%)	4 (1.4%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	28	3562^nd of 4627 public elementary schools	23.0%		23.2	3836^th of 4651 public elementary schools	17.5%	274						29.2	39.1	50.0		22.9	47.8	37.5		$15,981
Norman-Sims Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	4001 Tannehill Ln	Austin	78721	Travis County	Austin Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(512) 414-2347	274	26	10.5	95.3%	6 (2.2%)	109 (39.8%)	144 (52.6%)	2 (0.7%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (4.0%)	4.9	4585^th of 4627 public elementary schools	0.9%		7.8	4547^th of 4651 public elementary schools	2.2%	38	33.3	20.0	22.2	28.6	0.0	20.0	15.2	32.0		8.7	18.2	20.0		$13,011
Govalle Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	3601 Govalle Ave	Austin	78702	Travis County	Austin Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(512) 414-2078	384	39	9.7	87.2%	11 (2.9%)	51 (13.3%)	320 (83.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.5%)	4.3	4600^th of 4627 public elementary schools	0.6%		7.1	4564^th of 4651 public elementary schools	1.9%	36	7.7	28.6	33.3			15.9	24.3	26.2		16.4	14.0	10.9		$14,674
Oak Springs Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3601 Webberville Rd	Austin	78702	Travis County	Austin Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(512) 414-4413	215	20	10.5	96.7%	4 (1.9%)	80 (37.2%)	129 (60.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3.4	4609^th of 4627 public elementary schools	0.4%		3.8	4634^th of 4651 public elementary schools	0.4%	25						14.7	20.8	34.6		3.1	8.3	12.0		$15,037
The East Austin College Prep At Southwest Key	Public, Charter	PK, KG-6	5800 Mlk Blvd	Austin	78721	Travis County	Valere Public Schools	Yes	No	(n/a)	Yes	(512) 287-5000	159	8	19.7	95.6%	1 (0.6%)	5 (3.1%)	153 (96.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13.6	4366^th of 4627 public elementary schools	5.6%		8.2	4538^th of 4651 public elementary schools	2.4%	172						25.0	16.7	50.0	28.0	33.3	16.7	33.3	7.7	$8,076
Campbell Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2613 Rogers Ave	Austin	78722	Travis County	Austin Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(512) 414-2056	180	17	10.5	73.9%	35 (19.4%)	74 (41.1%)	49 (27.2%)	12 (6.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (5.6%)	41.6	2617^th of 4627 public elementary schools	43.4%		34.6	3157^th of 4651 public elementary schools	32.1%	540						54.2	61.5	45.7		37.5	53.9	19.4		$14,157
University Of Texas Elementary Charter School	Public, Charter	PK, KG-5	2200 E 6th St	Austin	78702	Travis County	University Of Texas Elementary Charter School	Yes	No	(n/a)	Yes	(512) 495-3300	304	22	13.8	60.5%	51 (16.8%)	37 (12.2%)	199 (65.5%)	4 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (4.3%)	53.5	1932^nd of 4627 public elementary schools	58.2%		34.1	3182^nd of 4651 public elementary schools	31.6%	1250						48.8	58.1	67.4		41.5	34.1	51.2		$13,512
Blackshear Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1712 E 11th St	Austin	78702	Travis County	Austin Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(512) 414-2021	214	19	11.3	52.3%	55 (25.7%)	47 (22.0%)	86 (40.2%)	4 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (10.3%)	45.1	2380^th of 4627 public elementary schools	48.6%		48.1	2254^th of 4651 public elementary schools	51.5%	126						56.8	41.2	51.7		55.6	38.2	31.0		$13,624

Frequently Asked Questions about Ortega Elementary

Is Ortega Elementary a good school?

Ortega Elementary ranks 2024^th of 4627 Texas elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What district is Ortega Elementary in?

Austin Independent School District (Isd)

How many students attend Ortega Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 242 students attended Ortega Elementary.

What schools do graduates of Ortega Elementary attend?

Students who attend Ortega Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Martin Middle
High : Eastside Early College High School

What is the racial makeup of Ortega Elementary?

Students at Ortega Elementary are 73% Hispanic, 19% African American, 8% White.

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Latest Texas data All new data »

2025–26 STAAR, STAAR EOC & STAAR Spanish test scoresJun 12, 2026

2021–22 through 2023–24 school spending dataJan 10, 2026

2023–24 dropout rates & graduation ratesSep 17, 2025

2024–25 STAAR EOC & STAAR Spanish test scoresJun 23, 2025

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Texas Education Agency.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.