V M Adams Elementary

V M Adams Elementary in San Antonio, TX, serves 732 students from Pre-K through 5th grade within the Harlandale Independent School District (Isd), a high-poverty community where over 91% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. This school has shown a remarkable recovery from a low point in 2015-2016, stabilizing in recent years and consistently outperforming its district peers in key areas, especially mathematics and Spanish-language assessments.

In mathematics, V M Adams is a clear leader among nearby Harlandale ISD schools. For example, in the most recent testing year, 3rd and 4th graders achieved math proficiency rates of 39.24% and 41.41%, respectively—nearly double the rates at Bellaire Elementary (9.09% in 3rd grade) and E H Gilbert Elementary (14.75% in 3rd grade). The school also holds its own against the nearby charter Idea South Flores Academy, with math scores nearly double in 3rd and 4th grades. Additionally, V M Adams excels in its bilingual program, with Spanish-language STAAR scores in reading and math often exceeding both district and state averages—a stark contrast to schools like Stonewall/Flanders Elementary and Bellaire, which score in the single digits on these tests.

While the school shows strength in serving its general and English Language Learner populations, it faces challenges in science, with only 11.01% proficiency in 5th grade—a systemic issue across the region. Performance for Special Education and Gifted students has also been inconsistent, suggesting a need for more tailored support. Just 1.25 miles away, Hillcrest Elementary in San Antonio Independent School District (Isd) stands as a high-performing outlier, with 4th grade math scores at 64.1%, highlighting that high achievement is possible in this demographic context. Overall, V M Adams is a school on a positive trajectory, with strong math and bilingual programs that make it a standout choice for families in the Harlandale district.