Ramirez-Burks Elementary

Ramirez-Burks Elementary is a PK-5 public school in Cotulla, Texas, serving 468 students within the Cotulla Independent School District (Isd), a high-needs community where over 86% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

While the school faces challenges typical of high-poverty areas, it consistently outperforms its nearest comparable school, Dilley Elementary, located about 16 miles away. In the most recent school year, Ramirez-Burks ranked in the 21st percentile statewide, while Dilley ranked in the 3rd percentile—a gap that has held for several years. The school also spends more per student ($13,803) than Dilley ($11,135), and this investment appears to pay off in key areas. A clear academic bright spot is 4th grade mathematics, where 50.77% of students were proficient, slightly above the state average of 49.28%. The school also shows a notable strength in serving male students, who ranked in the 32nd percentile statewide, significantly higher than the school’s overall rank.

However, there are areas of concern. The school’s performance with low socio-economic status (SES) students dropped sharply from the 31st percentile in 2024-2025 to the 13th percentile in 2025-2026, a decline that warrants attention. Additionally, 5th grade science remains a persistent weakness, with proficiency rates well below the state average. There is also a clear gender gap: female students ranked in the 14th percentile, while male students ranked in the 32nd percentile. On a positive note, the school’s Gifted and Talented program is a standout, with students ranking in the 44th percentile. The school’s most promising opportunity lies in replicating the successful strategies used in 4th grade math and for its Gifted and Talented students across other grades and subjects.