Dumas South Elementary

Dumas South Elementary in Dumas, TX, serves 701 students from Pre-K through 4th grade within the Dumas Independent School District (Isd), and is notable for its strong support of students from low socio-economic backgrounds, with nearly 70% qualifying for free or reduced lunch.

This school truly shines in its ability to support all learners. It earns a 5-star rating for its Gifted and Talented program, ranking in the 95th percentile statewide, and also achieves a 4-star rating for both its low-income and special education students. This means the school is effectively closing achievement gaps for its most vulnerable populations. In 4th grade math, students achieved a 58.39% proficiency rate, which is over 9 points above the state average. However, there is a notable "3rd grade math slump," with only 36% of 3rd graders proficient, which is below both the district and state averages. Reading scores are generally above state averages, though 4th-grade reading saw a decline in the most recent year.

When compared to nearby schools, Dumas South performs well. It significantly outperforms Cactus Elementary in every subject, despite Cactus serving a population with even higher economic need. However, a fascinating contrast exists with its sister school, Dumas North Elementary, which serves a very similar student body but outperforms Dumas South in nearly every academic metric. For example, Dumas North's 3rd-grade reading proficiency was 73.4% compared to Dumas South's 54.46%. This suggests that Dumas South could benefit from studying the successful strategies used at Dumas North to further improve its already solid foundation.