Reagan County Elementary

Reagan County Elementary in Big Lake, TX, serves 448 students from Pre-Kindergarten through 5th grade in a small, rural community, and is the only elementary school in the Reagan County Independent School District (Isd).

This school offers a favorable student-to-teacher ratio of 12.5:1, which is lower than the state average and suggests smaller class sizes. However, academic performance has been inconsistent, with the school’s overall state ranking fluctuating significantly over the past decade. A major area of concern is mathematics, where proficiency rates are well below state averages—for example, only 18.52% of 5th graders were proficient in math compared to the state average of 47.38%. Reading scores are a relative strength, with 4th-grade reading proficiency (47.27%) close to the state average (53.04%). The school also shows strong results for its Special Education students, who ranked in the 65th percentile in a recent year, indicating effective support programs. On the other hand, performance for Gifted and Talented students is surprisingly low, ranking in the 20th percentile, which suggests the school may not be adequately challenging its highest-potential learners.

Per-student spending has increased to $15,372, but this investment has not yet translated into consistent academic gains. The school’s performance varies widely by student group, with White students performing better than Hispanic and English Language Learner students, highlighting an equity gap that needs attention. Since there are no other schools within 20 miles of Big Lake, families considering this school should focus on its specific strengths—like special education and reading instruction—and its challenges, particularly in math and serving all student populations equally. A focused effort on improving math instruction and closing achievement gaps could help this school build on its positive aspects and provide a more stable, high-quality education for every child.