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James Bowie Fine Arts Academy

Q: Is James Bowie Fine Arts Academy a good school?

James Bowie Fine Arts Academy ranks 490 th of 4627 Texas elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public, Magnet Grades PK, KG-6

490^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 4,627 Texas Elementary Schools

Better than 89% of Texas elementary schools

Summary

James Bowie Fine Arts Academy is a PK-6 elementary school in the Midland Independent School District (Isd) serving 570 students, and it has established itself as a high-performing institution that consistently ranks in the top 11% of all Texas elementary schools. The school’s academic performance is a standout, with proficiency rates in Reading and Math that are often 20-30 percentage points higher than both the district and state averages—for example, 3rd grade Math proficiency at Bowie is 72.6% compared to the district’s 43.83% and state’s 44.33%. This level of achievement is unmatched by most nearby schools, with the notable exception of Carver Center, located just 1.81 miles away, which ranks in the top 0.2% of Texas elementary schools and achieves near-100% proficiency in every subject.

What makes Bowie particularly impressive is its ability to serve a wide range of learners exceptionally well. The school ranks #1 in the state for Gifted & Talented students and in the top 8-9% statewide for Special Education, Low Socio-Economic Status, and Hispanic students. This demonstrates that the school’s effectiveness is not limited to one demographic group. However, the school has shown inconsistent performance with "At Risk" students, ranking in the 35th-36th percentile in some years, suggesting a need for refined strategies for students facing challenges beyond economic disadvantage. The school also has a lower percentage of economically disadvantaged students (32.63% free/reduced lunch) compared to many neighbors like South Elementary (93.24%) and Lamar Elementary (86.09%), which contributes to its distinct educational environment.

Bowie’s success is not a recent fluke but the result of sustained improvement over the past decade, moving from a 3-star rating in 2016-2017 to a consistent 4-star rating in recent years. The school achieves these results with a moderate budget of $9,548 per student—less than many lower-performing peers like Sam Houston Collegiate Preparatory Elementary ($16,056)—and a student-teacher ratio of 18.8, which is higher than the district average. This efficiency suggests that Bowie’s success is driven by instructional quality and curriculum rather than exceptionally small class sizes. For families considering options, Midland Academy Charter School offers a competitive middle school program, but for elementary years, Bowie stands out as a top-tier choice in the district.

570

Students ?

18.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$8,491

Per pupil spending ?

32.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

805 Elk
Midland, TX 79701-4152

(432) 240-6100

District: Midland Independent School District (Isd)

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

52.5%

White:

41.6%

African American:

2.8%

See top rated Texas elementary schools

Compare James Bowie Fine Arts Academy to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 68th percentile in 2016 → 89th in 2026

Strengths

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

✓Ranks in the top 11% of Texas elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 21 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 avg48%

Texas avg49%

490^th of 4,627

Texas public elementary schools ?

Top 11%▲ up 21 pts since 2016

From top 32% (2016) to top 11% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Texas Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 25Elementary Schools in the Midland Independent School District (Isd)

560^th of 951Midland 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	87.3	490 of 4627	89.4%	★★★★☆
2025	81.5	706 of 4651	84.8%	★★★★☆
2024	86.9	503 of 4710	89.3%	★★★★☆
2023	85.6	544 of 4647	88.3%	★★★★☆
2022	85.8	527 of 4581	88.5%	★★★★☆
2021	70.8	1079 of 4578	76.4%	★★★★☆
2019	56.4	1695 of 4479	62.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	70.6	1005 of 4359	76.9%	★★★★☆
2017	60.2	1468 of 4329	66.1%	★★★☆☆
2016	68.4	1357 of 4286	68.3%	★★★☆☆
2015	72.5	1133 of 4320	73.8%	★★★★☆
2014	72.3	1095 of 4260	74.3%	★★★★☆
2013	60.4	1697 of 4221	59.8%	★★★☆☆
2012	52.0	2153 of 4206	48.8%	★★☆☆☆
2011	47.1	2588 of 4095	36.8%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2019	34.8	1762 of 2515	29.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	77.8	313 of 2483	87.4%	★★★★☆

At Risk

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2022	60.2	1407 of 4461	68.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	36.9	2803 of 4331	35.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	38.7	2762 of 4295	35.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	43.8	2385 of 4240	43.8%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	87.6	403 of 4575	91.2%	★★★★★
2025	79.1	589 of 3744	84.3%	★★★★☆
2024	88.2	380 of 4658	91.8%	★★★★★
2023	85.2	502 of 4588	89.1%	★★★★☆
2022	86.8	413 of 4561	90.9%	★★★★★
2021	70.4	1038 of 4499	76.9%	★★★★☆
2019	52.6	1906 of 4348	56.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	68.9	1081 of 4306	74.9%	★★★★☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2025	79.2	1 of 2619	100.0%	★★★★★

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	85.8	332 of 4413	92.5%	★★★★★
2025	74.8	603 of 3644	83.5%	★★★★☆
2024	84.5	372 of 4465	91.7%	★★★★★
2023	85.7	350 of 4401	92.0%	★★★★★
2022	86.4	305 of 4376	93.0%	★★★★★
2021	69.9	893 of 4329	79.4%	★★★★☆
2019	57.3	1554 of 4188	62.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	67.1	1012 of 4168	75.7%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	81.7	414 of 4520	90.8%	★★★★★
2025	76.4	487 of 3705	86.9%	★★★★☆
2024	88.6	198 of 4594	95.7%	★★★★★
2023	85.1	290 of 4521	93.6%	★★★★★
2022	78.7	499 of 4477	88.9%	★★★★☆
2021	67.5	982 of 4451	77.9%	★★★★☆
2019	62.4	1206 of 4309	72.0%	★★★★☆
2018	73.8	676 of 4264	84.1%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	82.2	633 of 4582	86.2%	★★★★☆
2025	78.9	626 of 3739	83.3%	★★★★☆
2024	78.7	757 of 4647	83.7%	★★★★☆
2023	83.2	585 of 4585	87.2%	★★★★☆
2022	80.8	685 of 4563	85.0%	★★★★☆
2021	67.0	1193 of 4498	73.5%	★★★★☆
2019	59.0	1505 of 4357	65.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	66.3	1167 of 4319	73.0%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	83.3	361 of 4301	91.6%	★★★★★
2025	84.7	240 of 3549	93.2%	★★★★★
2024	76.1	572 of 4292	86.7%	★★★★☆
2023	83.8	311 of 4086	92.4%	★★★★★
2022	97.1	38 of 3952	99.0%	★★★★★
2021	46.0	1645 of 3799	56.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	50.7	1374 of 3684	62.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	50.0	1416 of 3558	60.2%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	81.3	363 of 3006	87.9%	★★★★☆
2025	80.5	339 of 2612	87.0%	★★★★☆
2024	81.2	351 of 3108	88.7%	★★★★☆
2023	83.1	314 of 3106	89.9%	★★★★☆
2022	79.7	379 of 3082	87.7%	★★★★☆
2021	70.4	728 of 3082	76.4%	★★★★☆
2019	56.6	1306 of 3142	58.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	72.7	689 of 3127	78.0%	★★★★☆

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)

Gifted and Talented (2025)100th percentile+15 vs school

Hispanic (2026)92nd percentile+3 vs school

Special Education (2026)92nd percentile~ school

Female (2026)91st percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)91st percentile~ school

White (2026)88th percentile~ school

Male (2026)86th percentile-3 vs school

At Risk (2022)68th percentile-20 vs school

African American (2019)30th percentile-32 vs school

By subject vs Texas (2025-2026) ?

Reading74%+20 vs state

Mathematics67%+22 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Friday, May 3, 2019

Excellent school in a subpar district. Superior principals and an above average teaching staff that engages the students. Very strong in math and science despite the focus on fine arts (which they excel at). The best option for elementary school education in Midland ISD Close Quote

Schools Near James Bowie Fine Arts Academy

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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)						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 Spanish Reading 5th Grade	STAAR Spanish Mathematics 3rd Grade	STAAR Spanish Mathematics 4th Grade	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
James Bowie Fine Arts Academy	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-6	805 Elk	Midland	79701	Midland County	Midland Independent School District (Isd)	No	Yes	(n/a)	No	(432) 240-6100	570	30	18.8	32.6%	237 (41.6%)	16 (2.8%)	299 (52.5%)	5 (0.9%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (2.1%)	87.3	490^th of 4627 public elementary schools	89.4%		81.5	706^th of 4651 public elementary schools	84.8%	216						80.8	70.0	80.5	65.3			72.6	65.7	79.5	49.3				$8,491
General Tommy Franks Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	401 E Parker Ave	Midland	79701	Midland County	Midland Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	No	(432) 240-6500	950	36	26.0	45.6%	271 (28.5%)	92 (9.7%)	533 (56.1%)	20 (2.1%)	5 (0.5%)	1 (0.1%)	28 (2.9%)	58.5	1673^rd of 4627 public elementary schools	63.8%		51.1	2076^th of 4651 public elementary schools	55.4%	403						41.3	56.4	55.6	63.2			36.8	57.3	55.6	50.7				$7,037
Sam Houston Collegiate Preparatory Elementary	Public, Charter	PK, KG-6	2000 W Louisiana Ave	Midland	79701	Midland County	Midland Independent School District (Isd)	Yes	No	(n/a)	Yes	(432) 240-7100	481	34	13.8	66.1%	67 (13.9%)	44 (9.1%)	350 (72.8%)	3 (0.6%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	14 (2.9%)	58.2	1702^nd of 4627 public elementary schools	63.2%		61.9	1479^th of 4651 public elementary schools	68.2%	223						59.2	51.4	50.0	61.9			48.7	38.6	65.3	41.9				$11,445
Midland Academy Charter School	Public, Charter	K-8	500 N Baird St	Midland	79701	Midland County	Midland Academy Charter School	Yes	No	(n/a)	Yes	(432) 686-0003	421	27	15.4	41.1%	155 (36.8%)	35 (8.3%)	214 (50.8%)	13 (3.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.0%)	61.3	1557^th of 4627 public elementary schools	66.3%		62	1476^th of 4651 public elementary schools	68.3%	81						75.5	52.8	51.9	69.4	61.5	91.3	56.3	36.5	43.1	54.0	4.8	69.2	21.7	$10,040
De Zavala Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	705 N Lee St	Midland	79701	Midland County	Midland Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(432) 240-6600	669	32	21.0	88.5%	26 (3.9%)	33 (4.9%)	602 (90.0%)	6 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	27.1	3620^th of 4627 public elementary schools	21.8%		16.4	4209^th of 4651 public elementary schools	9.5%	589	7.7			50.0		26.8	20.3	41.3	40.0			25.4	34.4	36.5	58.6				$7,691
Milam Elementary	Public, Charter	PK, KG-6	301 E Dormard Ave	Midland	79705	Midland County	Midland Independent School District (Isd)	Yes	No	(n/a)	Yes	(432) 240-7500	561	28	20.1	70.2%	27 (4.8%)	26 (4.6%)	497 (88.6%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (1.4%)	65.5	1322^nd of 4627 public elementary schools	71.4%		49.6	2164^th of 4651 public elementary schools	53.5%	842	48.3	44.8	80.0	53.1		57.1	16.7	61.5	56.8				46.5	70.5	58.1				$11,665
Fannin Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	2400 Fannin Ave	Midland	79705	Midland County	Midland Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	No	(432) 240-6800	603	36	16.8	51.6%	199 (33.0%)	52 (8.6%)	330 (54.7%)	4 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (3.0%)	48.4	2200^th of 4627 public elementary schools	52.5%		43	2572^nd of 4651 public elementary schools	44.7%	372						52.0	44.4	53.9	53.2			42.9	41.5	51.3	40.3				$8,061
South Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	200 W Dakota Ave	Midland	79701	Midland County	Midland Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(432) 240-8100	651	22	29.7	93.2%	31 (4.8%)	35 (5.4%)	577 (88.6%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (0.8%)	22.4	3909^th of 4627 public elementary schools	15.5%		18.8	4090^th of 4651 public elementary schools	12.1%	181	20.7	53.6		11.1	5.9	31.0	42.6	22.6	37.2			22.7	35.4	32.3	33.8				$9,143
Carver Center	Public, Charter	1-6	1300 E Wall St	Midland	79701	Midland County	Midland Independent School District (Isd)	Yes	No	(n/a)	No	(432) 240-6400	605	35	17.1	24.3%	283 (46.8%)	50 (8.3%)	181 (29.9%)	60 (9.9%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (4.8%)	99.6	8^th of 4627 public elementary schools	99.8%		99.6	4^th of 4651 public elementary schools	99.9%	4						96.7	96.7	97.3	99.2			96.7	89.3	97.3	99.0		100.0		$9,920
Pease Communications/Technology Academy	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-6	1700 E Magnolia Ave	Midland	79705	Midland County	Midland Independent School District (Isd)	No	Yes	(n/a)	Yes	(432) 240-7700	547	29	18.7	72.4%	30 (5.5%)	38 (6.9%)	467 (85.4%)	3 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (1.5%)	40.9	2672^nd of 4627 public elementary schools	42.3%		37.3	2967^th of 4651 public elementary schools	36.2%	295		14.3			0.0	35.7	45.3	50.6	49.4			38.0	50.8	37.0	43.9				$9,417

Frequently Asked Questions about James Bowie Fine Arts Academy

Is James Bowie Fine Arts Academy a good school?

James Bowie Fine Arts Academy ranks 490^th of 4627 Texas elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

How many students attend James Bowie Fine Arts Academy?

In the 2024-25 school year, 570 students attended James Bowie Fine Arts Academy.

What is the racial makeup of James Bowie Fine Arts Academy?

Students at James Bowie Fine Arts Academy are 52% Hispanic, 42% White, 3% African American, 2% Two or more races.

What district is James Bowie Fine Arts Academy in?

Midland Independent School District (Isd)

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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.