Summary
South Elementary in Breckenridge, TX, serves 340 students in grades 3 through 5 within the Breckenridge Independent School District (Isd), and is the upper-elementary campus where students take high-stakes state tests. About 67% of its students come from low socio-economic backgrounds, and the school has shown a volatile but generally improving state ranking over the past decade, though the most recent data reveals a sharp decline that parents should be aware of.
After reaching a peak at the 60th percentile in 2023-2024, South Elementary dropped to the 33rd percentile in the latest year, with test scores falling across nearly all student groups. For example, 4th graders who scored 63% proficient in reading and math in 2023-2024 dropped to 43% and 54% respectively in the most recent year. A persistent weakness is 3rd-grade math, which has consistently underperformed the state average—only 36% of 3rd graders were proficient in math recently, compared to 44% statewide. This suggests students may be entering 3rd grade without strong foundational math skills, pointing to a need for better alignment with East Elementary, which serves Pre-K through 2nd grade and has a higher poverty rate (79% free/reduced lunch) but lower per-pupil spending ($9,331 vs. $10,405 at South).
Historically, 4th grade was a bright spot, with students outperforming state averages in reading and math, but that success has faded in the latest year. The school has also consistently struggled to serve its White student subgroup, ranking in the bottom 35% of the state for three years, while performing better with other groups. Parents should note that South Elementary spends more per student than East Elementary, likely due to testing resources, but the recent performance drop suggests systemic challenges that the district needs to address, especially in math instruction and the transition between campuses.
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