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Bear Branch Elementary

Public Grades PK, KG-4

344^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 4,627 Texas Elementary Schools

Better than 93% of Texas elementary schools

Summary

Bear Branch Elementary in Magnolia, TX, is a PK-4 school serving 489 students within the highly-rated Magnolia Independent School District (Isd), and it has achieved a remarkable turnaround to become one of the top 10% of elementary schools in Texas.

Bear Branch Elementary stands out as the clear academic leader within its district, consistently outperforming nearby Magnolia ISD schools like Cedric C Smith and Tom R Ellisor Elementary. With a 5-star rating and a 93rd percentile state rank, the school delivers proficiency rates in reading and math that are dramatically higher than both district and state averages. For example, 74% of 3rd graders were proficient in reading, compared to 59% for the district and 51% statewide. This level of performance rivals that of affluent schools in the neighboring Conroe Independent School District (Isd), such as Stewart Elementary and Galatas Elementary, even though Bear Branch serves a more diverse socioeconomic population. This makes it a standout "best value" school, delivering top-tier academic results without the same demographic advantages.

The school’s success is particularly notable for its effectiveness with specific student groups. Bear Branch ranks in the 94th percentile for both male students and students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, demonstrating a strong ability to close achievement gaps. However, the school has seen a decline in performance for special education students, dropping from the 97th percentile to the 72nd percentile over the past few years, which is an area for parents to monitor. Overall, Bear Branch’s sustained excellence and rapid improvement since 2021 make it a compelling choice for families seeking a high-performing elementary school in the Magnolia area.

489

Students ?

13.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$10,463

Per pupil spending ?

29.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

8909 Fm 1488
Magnolia, TX 77354

(281) 356-4771

District: Magnolia Independent School District (Isd)

Students who attend Bear Branch Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Bear Branch Intermediate
	Bear Branch J H
High:	Magnolia High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

69.9%

Hispanic:

18.0%

Two or more races:

5.5%

See top rated Texas elementary schools

Compare Bear Branch Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 71st percentile in 2016 → 93rd in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Texas average (71% vs 49% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 7% of Texas elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 22 percentile points since 2016

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school71%

District avg61%

Texas avg49%

344^th of 4,627

Texas public elementary schools ?

Top 7%▲ up 21 pts since 2016

From top 29% (2016) to top 7% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Texas Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 9Elementary Schools in the Magnolia Independent School District (Isd)

181^st of 951Magnolia 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)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	90.5	344 of 4627	92.6%	★★★★★
2025	92.6	285 of 4651	93.9%	★★★★★
2024	92.3	284 of 4710	94.0%	★★★★★
2023	89.6	393 of 4647	91.5%	★★★★★
2022	78.9	806 of 4581	82.4%	★★★★☆
2021	78.9	779 of 4578	83.0%	★★★★☆
2019	63.0	1363 of 4479	69.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	70.7	999 of 4359	77.1%	★★★★☆
2017	67.5	1131 of 4329	73.9%	★★★★☆
2016	70.6	1235 of 4286	71.2%	★★★★☆
2015	79.9	742 of 4320	82.8%	★★★★☆
2014	86.4	379 of 4260	91.1%	★★★★★
2013	82.1	554 of 4221	86.9%	★★★★☆
2012	86.5	368 of 4206	91.3%	★★★★★
2011	78.4	581 of 4095	85.8%	★★★★☆
2010	82.0	339 of 3937	91.4%	★★★★★
2009	82.4	350 of 3884	91.0%	★★★★★
2008	85.1	218 of 3768	94.2%	★★★★★
2007	84.7	170 of 3724	95.4%	★★★★★
2006	80.4	388 of 3476	88.8%	★★★★☆
2005	79.8	475 of 3475	86.3%	★★★★☆
2004	78.5	481 of 3465	86.1%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2018	71.7	441 of 2483	82.2%	★★★★☆

At Risk

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2021	56.7	1395 of 4331	67.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	19.5	4018 of 4295	6.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	24.0	3722 of 4240	12.2%	★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2025	77.1	454 of 2918	84.4%	★★★★☆
2021	48.8	1530 of 3446	55.6%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	85.4	484 of 4575	89.4%	★★★★☆
2025	93.4	157 of 3744	95.8%	★★★★★
2024	91.8	249 of 4658	94.7%	★★★★★
2023	91.2	276 of 4588	94.0%	★★★★★
2022	69.6	1112 of 4561	75.6%	★★★★☆
2021	73.1	947 of 4499	79.0%	★★★★☆
2019	58.8	1565 of 4348	64.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	61.8	1390 of 4306	67.7%	★★★☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	69.1	788 of 3075	74.4%	★★★★☆
2025	75.9	212 of 2619	91.9%	★★★★★
2023	75.1	326 of 2980	89.1%	★★★★☆
2022	68.3	889 of 2958	69.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	72.4	811 of 3006	73.0%	★★★★☆
2019	74.8	456 of 3184	85.7%	★★★★☆
2018	64.7	1223 of 3106	60.6%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	76.5	647 of 4413	85.3%	★★★★☆
2025	89.1	208 of 3644	94.3%	★★★★★
2024	87.0	286 of 4465	93.6%	★★★★★
2023	71.0	883 of 4401	79.9%	★★★★☆
2022	66.7	1075 of 4376	75.4%	★★★★☆
2021	50.9	1879 of 4329	56.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	57.7	1514 of 4188	63.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	63.9	1167 of 4168	72.0%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	72.6	766 of 4520	83.1%	★★★★☆
2025	86.7	204 of 3705	94.5%	★★★★★
2024	79.0	501 of 4594	89.1%	★★★★☆
2023	73.4	729 of 4521	83.9%	★★★★☆
2022	53.2	1937 of 4477	56.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	55.0	1687 of 4451	62.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	41.3	2687 of 4309	37.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	40.6	2655 of 4264	37.7%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	92.0	245 of 4582	94.7%	★★★★★
2025	91.3	239 of 3739	93.6%	★★★★★
2024	89.3	349 of 4647	92.5%	★★★★★
2023	84.6	527 of 4585	88.5%	★★★★☆
2022	83.3	575 of 4563	87.4%	★★★★☆
2021	82.1	620 of 4498	86.2%	★★★★☆
2019	66.1	1193 of 4357	72.6%	★★★★☆
2018	75.6	801 of 4319	81.5%	★★★★☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2019	81.4	121 of 1112	89.1%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	58.7	1225 of 4301	71.5%	★★★★☆
2025	78.2	408 of 3549	88.5%	★★★★☆
2024	91.2	140 of 4292	96.7%	★★★★★
2023	69.6	707 of 4086	82.7%	★★★★☆
2022	64.5	883 of 3952	77.7%	★★★★☆
2021	50.9	1369 of 3799	64.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	52.5	1282 of 3684	65.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	63.0	799 of 3558	77.5%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	76.6	539 of 3006	82.1%	★★★★☆
2025	83.5	254 of 2612	90.3%	★★★★★
2024	82.1	323 of 3108	89.6%	★★★★☆
2023	81.2	381 of 3106	87.7%	★★★★☆
2022	64.3	999 of 3082	67.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	64.9	906 of 3082	70.6%	★★★★☆
2019	45.5	1788 of 3142	43.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	54.4	1374 of 3127	56.1%	★★★☆☆

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)

Male (2026)95th percentile~ school

Female (2026)89th percentile-3 vs school

Multi-racial (2019)89th percentile+20 vs school

Hispanic (2026)85th percentile-7 vs school

English Language Learner (2025)84th percentile-9 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)83rd percentile-10 vs school

African American (2018)82nd percentile+5 vs school

White (2026)82nd percentile-10 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2026)74th percentile-18 vs school

Special Education (2026)72nd percentile-21 vs school

At Risk (2021)68th percentile-15 vs school

By subject vs Texas (2025-2026) ?

Reading74%+22 vs state

Mathematics68%+21 vs state

1.0

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What people are saying

by a citizen
Friday, April 8, 2016

The principal of this school is a disgrace to all the wonderful educators that have worked so hard on behalf of parents and children for so many years. To threaten parents with arrest or put the children in ISS for getting out of the car during pick up is the most insane thing ever. Parents can not walk their children to and from school, even if they live across the street. Shame on you all. Close Quote

Schools Near Bear Branch 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 Spanish Mathematics (2026)	STAAR Reading (2026)				STAAR Mathematics (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 Spanish Mathematics 3rd Grade	STAAR Reading 3rd Grade	STAAR Reading 4th Grade	STAAR Reading 5th Grade	STAAR Reading 6th Grade	STAAR Mathematics 3rd Grade	STAAR Mathematics 4th Grade	STAAR Mathematics 5th Grade	STAAR Mathematics 6th Grade	Total
Bear Branch Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	8909 Fm 1488	Magnolia	77354	Montgomery County	Magnolia Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	No	(281) 356-4771	489	37	13.3	29.4%	342 (69.9%)	12 (2.5%)	88 (18.0%)	14 (2.9%)	3 (0.6%)	3 (0.6%)	27 (5.5%)	90.5	344^th of 4627 public elementary schools	92.6%		92.6	285^th of 4651 public elementary schools	93.9%	59				74.1	73.9			66.3	69.4			$10,463
Deretchin Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	11000 Merit Oaks Dr	The Woodlands	77382	Montgomery County	Conroe Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	No	(832) 592-8700	1,209	76	15.9	16.1%	486 (40.2%)	63 (5.2%)	425 (35.2%)	165 (13.6%)	4 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	65 (5.4%)	92.5	273^rd of 4627 public elementary schools	94.1%		94.1	219^th of 4651 public elementary schools	95.3%	54	16.7		38.5	67.5	75.2	75.2	83.2	63.8	77.3	80.5	84.5	$7,719
Tom R Ellisor Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	33040 Egypt Ln	Magnolia	77354	Montgomery County	Magnolia Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	No	(281) 252-7400	569	39	14.4	32.7%	362 (63.6%)	27 (4.7%)	143 (25.1%)	14 (2.5%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (3.9%)	79.1	787^th of 4627 public elementary schools	83.0%		78.8	797^th of 4651 public elementary schools	82.9%	10				58.3	61.6			57.9	73.9			$9,398
Tough Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	11660 Crane Brook Dr	The Woodlands	77382	Montgomery County	Conroe Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	No	(281) 465-5900	988	62	15.9	6.6%	463 (46.9%)	26 (2.6%)	269 (27.2%)	159 (16.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	70 (7.1%)	94	210^th of 4627 public elementary schools	95.5%		96.6	122^nd of 4651 public elementary schools	97.4%	88				77.8	76.0	73.9	88.8	71.6	73.9	77.6	90.1	$8,089
Magnolia Parkway Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	11745 Fm 1488	Magnolia	77354	Montgomery County	Magnolia Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(281) 252-7440	680	49	13.7	51.5%	294 (43.2%)	18 (2.6%)	344 (50.6%)	3 (0.4%)	2 (0.3%)	2 (0.3%)	17 (2.5%)	75.7	912^th of 4627 public elementary schools	80.3%		58.1	1665^th of 4651 public elementary schools	64.2%	753	9.1			60.9	66.4			49.3	64.0			$7,323
Cedric C Smith	Public	PK, KG-4	28747 Hardin Store Rd	Magnolia	77354	Montgomery County	Magnolia Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(281) 252-2300	738	52	14.3	57.0%	235 (31.8%)	35 (4.7%)	431 (58.4%)	11 (1.5%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.3%)	23 (3.1%)	90.3	356^th of 4627 public elementary schools	92.3%		85.5	548^th of 4651 public elementary schools	88.2%	192	46.7	41.7	27.3	75.7	72.1			62.0	73.8			$8,401
Buckalew Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	4909 W Alden Bridge Dr	The Woodlands	77382	Montgomery County	Conroe Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	No	(281) 465-3400	823	48	17.2	18.1%	428 (52.0%)	35 (4.3%)	202 (24.5%)	86 (10.4%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.2%)	70 (8.5%)	93.9	216^th of 4627 public elementary schools	95.3%		97.2	96^th of 4651 public elementary schools	97.9%	120				73.4	77.7			79.8	72.8			$8,387
Galatas Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	9001 Cochrans Crossing Dr	The Woodlands	77381	Montgomery County	Conroe Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	No	(936) 709-5000	792	49	16.1	10.1%	512 (64.6%)	15 (1.9%)	147 (18.6%)	73 (9.2%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	44 (5.6%)	94.5	193^rd of 4627 public elementary schools	95.8%		97.7	64^th of 4651 public elementary schools	98.6%	129				71.2	83.1			69.8	79.8			$7,891
Bush Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	7420 Crownridge Dr	The Woodlands	77382	Montgomery County	Conroe Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	No	(936) 709-1600	881	54	16.3	17.4%	503 (57.1%)	40 (4.5%)	225 (25.5%)	66 (7.5%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	45 (5.1%)	95.1	166^th of 4627 public elementary schools	96.4%		94.4	207^th of 4651 public elementary schools	95.5%	41				72.9	79.7			72.1	86.5			$7,814
Stewart Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	680 Fish Creek Thoroughfare	Montgomery	77316	Montgomery County	Conroe Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	No	(936) 709-4200	914	62	14.7	9.1%	627 (68.6%)	28 (3.1%)	197 (21.6%)	9 (1.0%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	51 (5.6%)	95.5	149^th of 4627 public elementary schools	96.8%		97.4	91^st of 4651 public elementary schools	98.0%	58				70.2	76.5	86.3	86.4	73.9	78.5	84.0	89.0	$8,706

Frequently Asked Questions about Bear Branch Elementary

What district is Bear Branch Elementary in?

Magnolia Independent School District (Isd)

What schools do graduates of Bear Branch Elementary attend?

Students who attend Bear Branch Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Bear Branch Intermediate
Middle : Bear Branch J H
High : Magnolia High School

Is Bear Branch Elementary a good school?

Yes. Bear Branch Elementary ranks in the top 7.4% of Texas elementary schools.

What is the racial makeup of Bear Branch Elementary?

Students at Bear Branch Elementary are 70% White, 18% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races, 3% Asian, 2% African American.

How many students attend Bear Branch Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 489 students attended Bear Branch Elementary.

Rate Bear Branch 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.