Rolling Hills Elementary

Rolling Hills Elementary in Amarillo, TX, serves 304 students in grades 2-5 and is part of the River Road Independent School District (Isd), a district with a 2-star rating. The school has faced significant challenges, earning a 1-star rating for four consecutive years, with academic performance on STAAR exams well below state averages. However, there are signs of gradual improvement: Rolling Hills has climbed from the 12th percentile to the 14th percentile in state rankings over the past year, showing a positive trend despite its low overall standing.

One of the most striking contrasts is with Woodlands Elementary, a high-performing school just 4.72 miles away in the Amarillo Independent School District (Isd). While Rolling Hills sits in the 14th percentile, Woodlands is in the 92nd percentile. For example, in 4th-grade math, only 35.82% of Rolling Hills students were proficient compared to 71.29% at Woodlands. The school does have a favorable student-to-teacher ratio of 12.6:1, which is better than Woodlands' 16.1:1, suggesting potential for individualized attention. Yet, this resource advantage has not yet translated into higher test scores, indicating deeper instructional challenges.

Rolling Hills faces critical issues with specific student groups, particularly English Language Learner and Special Education students, who are performing in the bottom 2% of the state. The school also shows inconsistent academic performance across grade levels, with scores fluctuating year to year, such as 5th-grade reading dropping from 49.4% proficient to 34.25% in consecutive years. Its sister school, Willow Vista Eca, also struggles, suggesting district-wide systemic issues. While Rolling Hills has made incremental progress, it has not yet found a formula to consistently improve outcomes for its predominantly low-income student body.