Washington Elementary

Washington Elementary is a public elementary school in Big Spring, Texas, serving 238 students in grade 3. Despite relatively high per-student spending and a low student-teacher ratio, the school has consistently ranked among the lowest-performing elementary schools in the state over the past decade.

Washington Elementary's academic performance, as measured by STAAR test scores, is significantly below the state averages across all grade levels and subject areas. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, only 29.11% of 3rd-grade students were proficient or better in STAAR Reading, compared to the state average of 52.02%. The school also has a very high percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, at 77.73% in the 2023-2024 school year, suggesting the school serves a predominantly low-income population.

Interestingly, while Marcy Elementary and Moss Elementary, two nearby schools in the Big Spring Independent School District, serve similar student populations, they have higher statewide rankings and better academic performance, despite having higher student-teacher ratios and lower per-student spending. This suggests that Washington Elementary may benefit from a closer examination of its instructional practices, curriculum, and resource allocation to better support the academic needs of its students.