Tyrrell Elementary

Tyrrell Elementary in Port Arthur, TX, serves 670 students in grades PK-5 within the Port Arthur Independent School District (Isd), and has recently achieved its highest state ranking in seven years—a remarkable turnaround for a school where over 93% of students are economically disadvantaged.

This school stands out because of its dramatic improvement. In the 2025-2026 school year, Tyrrell jumped from the 11th to the 37th percentile statewide, the largest positive swing in the district. While nearby schools like Travis Elementary and Dequeen Elementary remain in the bottom 10-15%, Tyrrell has broken away. Even more impressive, the school excels with its most challenging student groups: it ranks in the 62nd percentile for English Language Learners, 61st for Special Education students, and 57th for low-income students—all significantly higher than its overall rank. This suggests targeted programs are working well. A clear highlight is 5th-grade reading, where Tyrrell’s proficiency rate (58.24%) essentially tied the state average, a feat no other Port Arthur ISD elementary school achieved.

Compared to high-performing charter schools like Bob Hope School - Elementary Campus (88th percentile) and Tekoa Academy Of Accelerated Studies (76th percentile), Tyrrell is closing the gap, especially in reading. However, Spanish-language STAAR scores remain a critical weakness, with proficiency rates as low as 0% in some grades. Notably, Tyrrell’s per-student spending ($10,102) is moderate compared to Dequeen Elementary ($16,589), which ranks near the bottom, indicating that effective strategies—not just higher spending—are driving this positive change.