Summary
Tulia Elementary in Tulia, TX, serves 364 students from Pre-Kindergarten through 5th grade and is part of the Tulia Independent School District (Isd). The school faces significant academic challenges, consistently ranking in the bottom 10% of all Texas elementary schools, with a current state percentile ranking of 3rd. This is a stark contrast to nearby schools like Happy Elementary, which ranks in the 71st percentile, and Kress Elementary, which ranks in the 36th percentile. The school serves a student population with very high economic need, as over 82% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, compared to just 24.63% at Happy Elementary and 51.85% at Kress Elementary.
Academically, proficiency rates at Tulia Elementary are well below state averages across all subjects and grade levels. For example, only 15% of 3rd graders were proficient in math, compared to 40% at Kress and 71.4% at Happy. This pattern of low performance is consistent, with proficiency rates ranging from 15% to just 31.67% across all tested areas. Interestingly, the school spends more per student ($12,048) than both Happy ($10,969) and Kress ($9,014) and has a lower student-to-teacher ratio (11.6:1), yet it achieves the weakest academic outcomes. This suggests that while resources are being invested, they are not translating into improved student achievement.
There are a few notable findings in the data. In the 2023-2024 school year, the Special Education subgroup showed a dramatic one-year spike in performance, ranking in the 37th percentile, before dropping back to the 7th percentile the following year. This suggests a specific intervention was effective but not sustained. Additionally, the school's challenges appear systemic rather than isolated to a particular grade or subject, pointing to a need for comprehensive, whole-school support systems. For parents considering this school, it is important to understand that while the school is investing heavily in its students, the academic outcomes remain a significant concern compared to nearby options.
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