Woodlawn Academy

Woodlawn Academy is a public elementary school in San Antonio, TX, serving 595 students in grades PK-8 as part of the San Antonio Independent School District (Isd), a district that ranks in the bottom 20% of Texas schools. The school serves a predominantly low-income community, with over 85% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, and has historically struggled academically, currently ranking in the 9th percentile statewide.

The most striking feature of Woodlawn Academy is the dramatic difference in performance between its English and Spanish language programs. In 3rd grade math, for example, only 12.82% of English-language test takers were proficient, compared to an impressive 80% of Spanish-language test takers—far exceeding both the district and state averages. This pattern holds across multiple grades and subjects, suggesting the Spanish program is a highly effective model. Additionally, the school shows a notable strength in Algebra I, with 52.17% of students proficient, nearly matching the state average. The school also earns 2 stars for its Special Education students, who rank in the 36th percentile statewide—a bright spot compared to the school's overall performance.

Nearby, Wilson Elementary stands out as a significant outperformer despite a 92.76% poverty rate, ranking in the 60th percentile statewide, suggesting that high-poverty is not an insurmountable barrier to success. In contrast, David Crockett Academy (96.37% poverty) and Madison Elementary (94.97%) rank much lower. A concerning trend at Woodlawn is the steep decline in math proficiency as students progress, dropping from 12.82% in 3rd grade to just 5% in 7th grade. However, the success of the Spanish program and Algebra I courses provides clear evidence that the school can achieve high levels of student success, offering valuable lessons for improvement.