Summary
El Magnet At Reagan Elementary in Odessa, TX, is a public magnet school serving 685 students in grades PK-5 within the Ector County Independent School District (Isd). This school is a remarkable standout, consistently ranking in the 99th percentile statewide for over a decade, and currently sits at 30th out of 4,627 elementary schools in Texas. What makes this achievement even more impressive is that the school serves a diverse student body, with 43% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, yet it outperforms every nearby school by a wide margin.
The academic results at Reagan are dramatically higher than those of surrounding schools. For example, in 5th grade reading, Reagan achieves a 96.74% proficiency rate, compared to just 52.27% at the next best nearby school, Gale Pond Alamo Elementary, and a district average of 50.16%. In 5th grade science, Reagan’s proficiency rate of 94.79% is nearly five times higher than the district average of 18.94%. This consistent excellence extends across all subjects and grades, with every test score above 78%. The school is also a top performer for specific student groups, ranking in the 100th percentile for low socio-economic status, special education, Hispanic, and male students statewide.
Interestingly, Reagan achieves these results with a higher student-teacher ratio (22.1) and lower per-student spending ($10,638) than many lower-performing schools in the area, such as Gonzales Elementary ($12,603 per student). The only area where the school does not excel is with its Gifted and Talented students, who rank in the 60th percentile. Even the nearby charter school, Harmony Science Academy - Odessa, which performs better than most district schools, still lags far behind Reagan, scoring 61.4% in 5th grade math compared to Reagan’s 89.13%. This data strongly suggests that Reagan’s magnet program is a highly effective model that could offer valuable lessons for the entire district.
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