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Excelsior Elementary

Public Grades PK, KG-8

3699^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 4,627 Texas Elementary Schools

Better than 20% of Texas elementary schools

Summary

Excelsior Elementary is a very small, rural PK-8 school in Center, TX, serving just 86 students as the sole campus of the Excelsior Independent School District (Isd). While the school has historically ranked in the bottom 20% of Texas elementary schools, the most recent data shows a significant improvement to the 20th percentile—its highest rank in six years—suggesting a potential turning point. The school stands out for its exceptional resource allocation, spending $17,885 per student and maintaining an extremely low student-to-teacher ratio of 7.8:1, yet these advantages have not consistently translated into high test scores, creating a notable paradox.

One of the most interesting findings is a clear split in performance between grade levels. While lower grades (3rd-5th) struggle with proficiency rates often 20-30 points below the state average, upper grades (6th-8th) show surprising strength, with subjects like 6th-grade Reading and Math, and 8th-grade Reading and Math all exceeding state averages. This suggests a particularly strong middle school teaching team or a highly motivated cohort of older students. In stark contrast, the nearby Stephen F Austin State University Charter School, just 18.7 miles away, achieves nearly 90-100% proficiency in all subjects while spending less than half per student and having double the student-to-teacher ratio, highlighting that Excelsior's challenges likely involve deeper issues of instructional quality and school culture rather than just rural poverty.

Despite long-term struggles, there is a glimmer of hope in recent trends. The performance of Low Socio-Economic Status students jumped from the 2nd percentile in 2023-2024 to the 27th percentile in 2025-2026, a massive one-year improvement suggesting recent interventions may be starting to work for the school's most vulnerable population. However, the school's tiny size means its rankings can be volatile, as the performance of just a few students can dramatically swing overall results. For parents considering this school, the unique multi-age PK-8 environment, small class sizes, and recent upward trend in upper grades are key strengths, but the inconsistent lower-grade performance and the stark comparison to the nearby charter school warrant careful consideration.

Students ?

7.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$16,766

Per pupil spending ?

52.3%

Free/discounted lunch ?

11270 St Hwy 7 W
Center, TX 75935-5304

(936) 598-5866

District: Excelsior Independent School District (Isd)

Racial breakdown:

White:

77.9%

Hispanic:

16.3%

African American:

4.7%

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At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 9th percentile in 2022 → 20th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 20th (2026) from a 9th-percentile low (2022)

✓Small classes — about 8 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Texas average (41% vs 50% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (20th percentile)

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school41%

District avg41%

Texas avg50%

Elementary school

3,699^th of 4,627

Texas public elementary schools ?

Bottom 20%▼ down 35 pts since 2016

From top 45% (2016) to bottom 20% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Texas Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

632^nd of 2,335

Texas public middle schools ?

Top 27%▲ up 6 pts since 2016

From top 33% (2016) to top 27% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Texas Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

508^th of 951Excelsior Independent School District (Isd) among Texas districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	25.9	3699 of 4627	20.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	18.5	4113 of 4651	11.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	16.0	4268 of 4710	9.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	19.9	4010 of 4647	13.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	15.8	4169 of 4581	9.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	28.1	3301 of 4578	27.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	27.3	3510 of 4479	21.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	34.1	2937 of 4359	32.6%	★★☆☆☆
2017	17.8	3888 of 4329	10.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	57.1	1941 of 4286	54.7%	★★★☆☆
2015	45.4	2581 of 4320	40.3%	★★☆☆☆
2014	48.7	2409 of 4260	43.5%	★★☆☆☆
2013	71.8	1086 of 4221	74.3%	★★★★☆
2012	29.2	3466 of 4206	17.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	59.1	1870 of 4095	54.3%	★★★☆☆
2010	52.2	2221 of 3937	43.6%	★★☆☆☆
2009	50.2	2246 of 3884	42.2%	★★☆☆☆
2008	73.5	837 of 3768	77.8%	★★★★☆
2007	79.9	440 of 3724	88.2%	★★★★☆
2005	60.1	1521 of 3475	56.2%	★★★☆☆
2004	39.7	2483 of 3465	28.3%	★☆☆☆☆

At Risk

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2018	48.7	2031 of 4240	52.1%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	20.1	4044 of 4575	11.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	34.1	2590 of 3744	30.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	15.5	4317 of 4658	7.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	36.3	2935 of 4348	32.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	40.7	2571 of 4306	40.3%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	33.8	3320 of 4520	26.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	24.7	3152 of 3705	14.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	9.0	4515 of 4594	1.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	10.7	4386 of 4521	3.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	37.6	2884 of 4451	35.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	45.7	2373 of 4309	44.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	64.1	1144 of 4264	73.2%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	20.0	4051 of 4582	11.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	0.5	3739 of 3739	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	46.2	2376 of 4585	48.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	20.1	3847 of 4357	11.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	37.6	2728 of 4319	36.8%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	20.4	2660 of 3006	11.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	7.6	2542 of 2612	2.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	6.6	3055 of 3108	1.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	15.7	2875 of 3106	7.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	15.9	2827 of 3082	8.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	16.1	2909 of 3142	7.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	23.9	2649 of 3127	15.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	64.6	632 of 2335	72.9%	★★★★☆
2025	36.4	1513 of 2344	35.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	35.6	1554 of 2372	34.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	45.6	1195 of 2330	48.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	50.4	1004 of 2254	55.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	39.4	1311 of 2252	41.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	39.5	1305 of 2193	40.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	51.1	898 of 2080	56.8%	★★★☆☆
2017	60.4	653 of 2027	67.8%	★★★☆☆
2016	66.1	658 of 1987	66.9%	★★★☆☆
2015	56.1	911 of 2043	55.4%	★★★☆☆
2014	74.6	405 of 1987	79.6%	★★★★☆
2013	80.3	247 of 1973	87.5%	★★★★☆
2012	54.7	912 of 1951	53.3%	★★★☆☆
2011	43.9	1305 of 1895	31.1%	★★☆☆☆
2010	70.6	381 of 1803	78.9%	★★★★☆
2009	81.8	110 of 1763	93.8%	★★★★★
2008	60.5	704 of 1718	59.0%	★★★☆☆
2005	56.2	732 of 1582	53.7%	★★★☆☆
2004	31.9	1226 of 1573	22.1%	★☆☆☆☆

At Risk

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2021	55.9	688 of 2118	67.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	55.9	659 of 2058	68.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	48.5	845 of 2008	57.9%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	42.1	1264 of 2240	43.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	38.4	1394 of 2242	37.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	62.6	621 of 2047	69.7%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	68.6	444 of 2253	80.3%	★★★★☆
2022	59.8	660 of 2220	70.3%	★★★★☆
2021	53.4	848 of 2172	61.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	65.9	482 of 2073	76.7%	★★★★☆
2018	38.2	1315 of 2039	35.5%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	71.2	469 of 2253	79.2%	★★★★☆
2022	18.4	1960 of 2228	12.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	18.6	1891 of 2168	12.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	63.8	567 of 2030	72.1%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	46.1	966 of 1731	44.2%	★★☆☆☆
2025	27.5	1158 of 1439	19.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	24.9	1448 of 1733	16.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	46.5	960 of 1749	45.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	26.6	1408 of 1723	18.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	13.8	1585 of 1700	6.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	31.2	1275 of 1684	24.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	38.1	1083 of 1673	35.3%	★★☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Elementary school

At Risk (2018)52nd percentile+19 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)27th percentile+6 vs school

Female (2026)12th percentile-8 vs school

Male (2026)12th percentile-8 vs school

White (2026)12th percentile-9 vs school

Middle school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)80th percentile+7 vs school

Male (2026)79th percentile+6 vs school

At Risk (2021)68th percentile+26 vs school

White (2026)44th percentile-29 vs school

Female (2026)44th percentile-29 vs school

By subject vs Texas (2025-2026) ?

Biology100%+29 vs state

English I Reading100%+45 vs state

Reading39%-16 vs state

Mathematics36%-8 vs state

Algebra I17%-37 vs state

Social Studies14%-17 vs state

★

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Schools Near Excelsior Elementary

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				STAAR Spanish Reading (2026)		STAAR EOC Algebra I (2026)	STAAR EOC Biology (2026)	STAAR EOC English I Reading (2026)	STAAR Reading (2026)						STAAR Mathematics (2026)						STAAR Social Studies (2026)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	STAAR Spanish Reading 3rd Grade	STAAR Spanish Reading 4th Grade	STAAR EOC Algebra I End of Course	STAAR EOC Biology End of Course	STAAR EOC English I Reading End of Course	STAAR Reading 3rd Grade	STAAR Reading 4th Grade	STAAR Reading 5th Grade	STAAR Reading 6th Grade	STAAR Reading 7th Grade	STAAR Reading 8th Grade	STAAR Mathematics 3rd Grade	STAAR Mathematics 4th Grade	STAAR Mathematics 5th Grade	STAAR Mathematics 6th Grade	STAAR Mathematics 7th Grade	STAAR Mathematics 8th Grade	STAAR Social Studies 8th Grade	Total
Excelsior Elementary	Public	PK, KG-8	11270 St Hwy 7 W	Center	75935	Shelby County	Excelsior Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(936) 598-5866	86	11	7.8	52.3%	67 (77.9%)	4 (4.7%)	14 (16.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.2%)	25.9	3699^th of 4627 public elementary schools	20.1%		18.5	4113^th of 4651 public elementary schools	11.6%	414			16.7	100.0	100.0	28.6	21.4	23.1	66.7	50.0	71.4	42.9	21.4	15.4	66.7	16.7	71.4	14.3	$16,766
Center Elementary	Public	3-5	621 Roughrider Dr	Center	75935	Shelby County	Center Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(936) 598-3625	476	33	14.5	86.1%	101 (21.2%)	103 (21.6%)	223 (46.8%)	29 (6.1%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.1%)	15 (3.2%)	10.8	4455^th of 4627 public elementary schools	3.7%		30	3436^th of 4651 public elementary schools	26.1%	1019						26.6	31.2	34.2				27.3	17.7	21.5					$7,987
F L Moffett Pri	Public	PK, KG-2	294 Stadium Dr	Center	75935	Shelby County	Center Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(936) 598-6266	630	39	16.0	82.2%	161 (25.6%)	155 (24.6%)	270 (42.9%)	24 (3.8%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (3.0%)								(n/a)																			$8,654
Garrison Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	459 N Us Hwy 59	Garrison	75946	Nacogdoches County	Garrison Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(936) 347-7010	346	28	12.5	66.2%	217 (62.7%)	54 (15.6%)	51 (14.7%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (6.4%)	75.5	924^th of 4627 public elementary schools	80.0%		58.3	1659^th of 4651 public elementary schools	64.3%	735						52.8	61.0	80.0				49.1	59.3	70.9					$7,097
Chireno Elementary	Public	PK, KG-8	901 Main St	Chireno	75937	Nacogdoches County	Chireno Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(936) 362-2132	245	21	11.7	73.1%	178 (72.7%)	17 (6.9%)	42 (17.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (3.3%)	33.7	3171^st of 4627 public elementary schools	31.5%		46	2387^th of 4651 public elementary schools	48.7%	784			100.0			47.1	60.9	50.0	26.9	57.7	52.0	35.3	34.8	40.0	23.1	30.8	55.6	32.0	$9,346
Woden Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	5263 F M 226	Woden	75978	Nacogdoches County	Woden Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(936) 564-2386	471	39	12.1	67.1%	329 (69.9%)	7 (1.5%)	125 (26.5%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (1.7%)	56.3	1795^th of 4627 public elementary schools	61.2%		53.1	1963^rd of 4651 public elementary schools	57.8%	168						60.0	52.5	55.9				61.7	49.2	35.3					$7,574
San Augustine Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	101 S Milam St	San Augustine	75972	San Augustine County	San Augustine Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(936) 275-3424	277	20	13.8	88.4%	59 (21.3%)	130 (46.9%)	80 (28.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.5%)	40.8	2679^th of 4627 public elementary schools	42.1%		39.5	2799^th of 4651 public elementary schools	39.8%	120						20.6	46.2	46.8	58.1			18.2	64.1	40.4	48.4				$11,027
Mike Moses Elementary	Public	K-5	2801 Park St	Nacogdoches	75961	Nacogdoches County	Nacogdoches Independent School District (Isd)	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(936) 569-5001	503	31	16.0	94.0%	33 (6.6%)	182 (36.2%)	274 (54.5%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (2.6%)	4.6	4594^th of 4627 public elementary schools	0.7%		5.9	4593^rd of 4651 public elementary schools	1.2%	1	0.0	30.0				13.3	25.0	26.5				10.2	20.2	15.7					$7,309
Emeline Carpenter Elementary	Public	K-5	5209 SE Stallings Dr	Nacogdoches	75961	Nacogdoches County	Nacogdoches Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(936) 569-5070	359	25	14.5	92.2%	33 (9.2%)	208 (57.9%)	92 (25.6%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (6.7%)	2.5	4620^th of 4627 public elementary schools	0.2%		6.8	4571^st of 4651 public elementary schools	1.7%	49						13.7	11.3	17.8				3.9	3.2	22.2					$9,488
Raguet Elementary	Public	K-5	2708 Raguet St	Nacogdoches	75961	Nacogdoches County	Nacogdoches Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(936) 569-5052	409	29	14.2	67.2%	142 (34.7%)	126 (30.8%)	93 (22.7%)	11 (2.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	37 (9.0%)	32.6	3258^th of 4627 public elementary schools	29.6%		44.8	2446^th of 4651 public elementary schools	47.4%	812						40.6	47.5	49.3				25.0	44.1	37.7					$8,496

Frequently Asked Questions about Excelsior Elementary

What district is Excelsior Elementary in?

Excelsior Independent School District (Isd)

How many students attend Excelsior Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 86 students attended Excelsior Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Excelsior Elementary?

Students at Excelsior Elementary are 78% White, 16% Hispanic, 5% African American, 1% Two or more races.

Is Excelsior Elementary a good school?

Excelsior Elementary ranks in the bottom 20.1% of Texas elementary schools.

Rate Excelsior Elementary!

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Latest Texas data All new data »

2025–26 STAAR, STAAR EOC & STAAR Spanish test scoresJun 12, 2026

2021–22 through 2023–24 school spending dataJan 10, 2026

2023–24 dropout rates & graduation ratesSep 17, 2025

2024–25 STAAR EOC & STAAR Spanish test scoresJun 23, 2025

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Texas Education Agency.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.