Western Hills Elementary

Western Hills Elementary in Temple, TX, is a PK-5 school serving 417 students within the Temple Independent School District (Isd), where 70% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. The school has shown a steady upward climb from a historic low in 2016 to its current state ranking in the 29th percentile, demonstrating resilience in a high-needs community.

One of the school's standout strengths is its exceptional program for Gifted and Talented students, who rank in the 76th percentile statewide—a remarkable achievement that far outpaces the school's overall performance. Additionally, 5th-grade math is a bright spot, with a proficiency rate of 47.76% that slightly exceeds the state average and outperforms the district. However, the school faces significant challenges, including a dramatic decline in Special Education performance, which dropped from the 73rd percentile to the 13th percentile in the most recent year. Science remains a persistent weakness, with only 24.24% of 5th graders proficient, well below the state average. Nearby Kennedy-Powell Elementary, just 1.27 miles away, serves a similar student population but ranks in the 73rd percentile statewide, showing that high performance is achievable within the same district.

When comparing to neighboring Belton Independent School District (Isd) schools like Charter Oak Elementary, the economic divide is stark—Belton schools have free/reduced lunch rates between 27% and 44%, compared to Western Hills' 70%. This context helps explain performance gaps, such as in 5th-grade Reading where Western Hills scored 46.15% versus Charter Oak's 69.79%. While Western Hills is on an upward trajectory, its leadership should investigate the volatility in subgroup performance, particularly for Special Education students, and look to replicate the success of Kennedy-Powell to build more consistent, systemic improvement.