Palacios Elementary

Central Elementary is a public elementary school serving grades PK-2 in the Palacios Independent School District (ISD) in Palacios, TX. The school has 359 students and faces several challenges, including lower academic performance, higher rates of economic disadvantage, and higher student-teacher ratios compared to nearby schools.

Central Elementary's STAAR test scores are significantly lower than the state averages across all grade levels and subjects. For example, in 3rd grade reading, only 25.26% of students were proficient or better, compared to the state average of 52.02%. This trend continues in math and science as well. Additionally, Central Elementary has a very high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 70.77% to 82.73% over the past 3 years, which is significantly higher than the state average and indicates a high level of economic disadvantage among the student population.

When comparing Central Elementary to the nearby East Side Intermediate (within the same district) and the Tidehaven ISD schools (in a different district), some interesting patterns emerge. East Side Intermediate, while still below state averages, outperforms Central Elementary on most STAAR test scores, and the Tidehaven ISD schools, particularly Markham Elementary, significantly outperform both Central Elementary and East Side Intermediate on STAAR tests, with proficiency rates often double or triple the state averages. The Tidehaven ISD schools also have lower percentages of students receiving free/reduced lunch and lower student-teacher ratios compared to Central Elementary.