Summary
Dishman Elementary in Beaumont, TX, is a PK-5 school serving about 500 students in the Beaumont Independent School District (Isd), where over 90% of students come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. The school has faced significant challenges, with its overall state ranking dropping from the 34th percentile a decade ago to the 5th percentile in recent years, indicating a persistent decline in academic performance compared to other Texas elementary schools.
Despite these struggles, Dishman has clear strengths that set it apart. The school consistently excels in 5th grade reading, with 43.48% of students proficient in the latest year—well above the district average of 34.8%. This "fifth-grade effect" is a bright spot, as 5th graders perform nearly double the proficiency rate of 3rd graders in reading. Additionally, Dishman has shown remarkable success with its Special Education students, ranking in the 81st percentile statewide for this subgroup, a stark contrast to its overall performance. However, the school faces volatility in 5th grade math, with proficiency rates swinging dramatically from 55% to 18% in recent years, and it struggles significantly with its low socioeconomic status students, who rank in the 2nd percentile statewide.
When compared to nearby schools, Dishman’s trajectory is concerning. For instance, Fletcher Elementary, just 4.68 miles away, serves an even more disadvantaged population but achieves much higher results, with 5th grade math proficiency at 69.57% and reading at 60.87%. Dishman’s decline is sharper than peers like Curtis Elementary, which also saw drops but from a higher starting point. The school’s ability to succeed with specific groups, like Special Education students, suggests that targeted strategies can work, but the central challenge is replicating that success for the majority of its students, particularly those from low-income backgrounds.
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