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Walnut Bend Elementary

Q: Is Walnut Bend Elementary a good school?

Walnut Bend Elementary ranks 1650 th of 4627 Texas elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-8

1650^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 4,627 Texas Elementary Schools

Better than 64% of Texas elementary schools

Summary

Walnut Bend Elementary in Gainesville, TX, is a very small, rural PK-8 school serving just 73 students within the Walnut Bend Independent School District (Isd), a district ranked in the top 28% of Texas. The school has staged a remarkable turnaround, jumping from the bottom 10% of Texas elementary schools to the 64th percentile in just three years, a feat driven by its effectiveness with its economically disadvantaged students, who make up 67% of the student body.

Walnut Bend’s most defining feature is its stark contrast between reading and math performance. Reading scores are a clear strength, with 6th and 7th-grade proficiency rates of 88.89% and 85.71%, far exceeding the state average of about 54%. However, math proficiency is a significant weakness, with 7th-grade math at 0% in the most recent data. This "Reading Strong, Math Weak" profile is more pronounced than at nearby schools like Muenster Elementary or Collinsville Elementary. The school’s small size and high per-student spending of $16,223 (compared to $9,043 at Muenster) create an intimate environment with an 11:1 student-teacher ratio, which likely facilitates the personalized attention needed for its recent improvement.

Walnut Bend stands out as a rural success story compared to nearby Gainesville Independent School District (Isd) schools like W E Chalmers Elementary and Edison Elementary, which have similar poverty rates but rank in the bottom 10% of the state. This comparison shows that poverty is not destiny, and Walnut Bend’s high-resource, low-density model appears more effective for serving a high-needs population. However, the school’s dramatic ranking swings—a classic "small school" effect—mean that a single cohort of students can drastically alter metrics, making it hard to assess long-term sustainability. The key challenge now is to replicate its reading success in math and ensure the gains are not just a product of one high-performing group.

Students ?

11.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$15,854

Per pupil spending ?

67.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

47 C R 198
Gainesville, TX 76240-9720

(940) 665-5990

District: Walnut Bend Independent School District (Isd)

Racial breakdown:

White:

64.4%

Hispanic:

30.1%

Two or more races:

4.1%

See top rated Texas elementary schools

Compare Walnut Bend Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 49th percentile in 2016 → 64th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 15 percentile points since 2016

✓Above the Texas median (64th percentile)

✓Small classes — about 11 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

!Mathematics scores 20 pts below the Texas average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school50%

District avg50%

Texas avg46%

Elementary school

1,650^th of 4,627

Texas public elementary schools ?

Top 36%▲ up 15 pts since 2016

From bottom 49% (2016) to top 36% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Texas Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

842^nd of 2,335

Texas public middle schools ?

Top 36%▲ up 45 pts since 2017

From bottom 19% (2017) to top 36% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Texas Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

265^th of 951Walnut Bend Independent School District (Isd) among Texas districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	59.1	1650 of 4627	64.3%	★★★☆☆
2025	37.5	2953 of 4651	36.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	33.3	3256 of 4710	30.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	17.3	4163 of 4647	10.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	18.9	4008 of 4581	12.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	32.6	3000 of 4578	34.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	28.0	3467 of 4479	22.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	34.3	2919 of 4359	33.0%	★★☆☆☆
2017	27.4	3303 of 4329	23.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	52.6	2179 of 4286	49.2%	★★☆☆☆
2015	74.1	1047 of 4320	75.8%	★★★★☆
2014	61.0	1703 of 4260	60.0%	★★★☆☆
2013	59.2	1774 of 4221	58.0%	★★★☆☆
2012	73.6	954 of 4206	77.3%	★★★★☆
2011	46.1	2646 of 4095	35.4%	★★☆☆☆
2010	81.1	406 of 3937	89.7%	★★★★☆
2009	76.8	676 of 3884	82.6%	★★★★☆
2007	52.5	2092 of 3724	43.8%	★★☆☆☆
2006	0.0	3476 of 3476	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2005	1.4	3468 of 3475	0.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2004	31.1	2831 of 3465	18.3%	★☆☆☆☆

At Risk

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2022	34.3	3211 of 4461	28.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	33.3	3161 of 4240	25.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2025	41.6	2203 of 3744	41.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	33.7	3254 of 4658	30.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	53.7	1825 of 4499	59.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	26.5	3534 of 4348	18.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	35.1	2929 of 4306	32.0%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2025	44.1	2080 of 3644	42.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	44.5	2304 of 4168	44.7%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2025	51.4	1668 of 3705	55.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	44.0	2622 of 4594	42.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	25.7	3782 of 4521	16.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	26.8	3702 of 4477	17.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	20.1	3961 of 4309	8.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	34.7	3061 of 4264	28.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2025	36.8	2445 of 3739	34.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	30.3	3427 of 4647	26.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	13.2	4149 of 4357	4.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	17.5	3949 of 4319	8.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2024	16.4	2851 of 3108	8.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	0.8	3079 of 3082	0.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	28.2	2499 of 3142	20.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	9.9	3037 of 3127	2.9%	☆☆☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	57.1	842 of 2335	63.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	39.9	1332 of 2254	40.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	22.9	1796 of 2252	20.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	32.2	1532 of 2193	30.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	48.0	1012 of 2080	51.3%	★★★☆☆
2017	24.3	1636 of 2027	19.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	45.0	1227 of 2043	39.9%	★★☆☆☆
2014	43.7	1205 of 1987	39.4%	★★☆☆☆
2013	43.0	1241 of 1973	37.1%	★★☆☆☆
2012	48.7	1072 of 1951	45.1%	★★☆☆☆
2011	61.7	723 of 1895	61.8%	★★★☆☆
2010	54.7	929 of 1803	48.5%	★★☆☆☆
2005	48.2	914 of 1582	42.2%	★★☆☆☆
2004	53.9	808 of 1573	48.6%	★★☆☆☆

At Risk

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2022	69.2	384 of 2182	82.4%	★★★★☆
2018	55.9	616 of 2008	69.3%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2022	45.5	1135 of 2221	48.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	16.7	1931 of 2151	10.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2022	36.9	1462 of 2220	34.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	18.8	1967 of 2172	9.4%	☆☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	55.6	713 of 1731	58.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	40.3	1088 of 1723	36.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	3.3	1685 of 1700	0.9%	☆☆☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Elementary school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)55th percentile+18 vs school

Hispanic (2025)43rd percentile+6 vs school

Female (2025)41st percentile+5 vs school

Male (2025)35th percentile~ school

At Risk (2022)28th percentile+16 vs school

White (2024)8th percentile-23 vs school

Middle school

At Risk (2022)82nd percentile+41 vs school

White (2026)59th percentile-5 vs school

Female (2022)49th percentile+8 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2022)34th percentile-7 vs school

By subject vs Texas (2025-2026) ?

Reading82%+29 vs state

Mathematics18%-20 vs state

★

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Schools Near Walnut Bend Elementary

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				STAAR Spanish Reading (2026)		STAAR Reading (2026)					STAAR Mathematics (2026)						Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	STAAR Spanish Reading 3rd Grade	STAAR Spanish Reading 4th Grade	STAAR Reading 3rd Grade	STAAR Reading 4th Grade	STAAR Reading 5th Grade	STAAR Reading 6th Grade	STAAR Reading 7th Grade	STAAR Mathematics 3rd Grade	STAAR Mathematics 4th Grade	STAAR Mathematics 5th Grade	STAAR Mathematics 6th Grade	STAAR Mathematics 7th Grade	STAAR Mathematics 8th Grade	Total
Walnut Bend Elementary	Public	PK, KG-8	47 C R 198	Gainesville	76240	Cooke County	Walnut Bend Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(940) 665-5990	73	7	11.0	67.1%	47 (64.4%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (30.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.4%)	3 (4.1%)	59.1	1650^th of 4627 public elementary schools	64.3%		37.5	2953^rd of 4651 public elementary schools	36.5%	1303			66.7			88.9	85.7	33.3			22.2	0.0		$15,854
Sivells Bend Elementary	Public	PK, KG-8	1053 Cr 403	Gainesville	76240	Cooke County	Sivells Bend Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(940) 665-6411	62	8	8.2	59.7%	45 (72.6%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (21.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (6.5%)	26.8	3640^th of 4627 public elementary schools	21.3%		60.4	1558^th of 4651 public elementary schools	66.5%	2082			62.5	42.9	50.0		87.5	0.0	0.0	25.0			100.0	$11,728
W E Chalmers Elementary	Public	2-4	600 Fm 3092	Gainesville	76240	Cooke County	Gainesville Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(940) 665-4147	703	39	18.1	73.5%	188 (26.7%)	24 (3.4%)	455 (64.7%)	4 (0.6%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.3%)	29 (4.1%)	16.7	4203^rd of 4627 public elementary schools	9.2%		8.9	4511^th of 4651 public elementary schools	3.0%	308	8.3	66.7	18.0	34.6				16.9	39.8					$6,961
Edison Elementary	Public	PK, KG-1	#1 Edison Dr	Gainesville	76240	Cooke County	Gainesville Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(940) 665-6091	630	35	18.1	78.6%	140 (22.2%)	26 (4.1%)	408 (64.8%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	51 (8.1%)								(n/a)														$9,033
Hayes Pri	Public	PK, KG-2	117 4th St	Whitesboro	76273	Grayson County	Whitesboro Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(903) 564-4259	449	25	17.9	67.5%	316 (70.4%)	1 (0.2%)	102 (22.7%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	5 (1.1%)	22 (4.9%)								(n/a)														$8,182
Whitesboro Intermediate	Public	3-5	211 College	Whitesboro	76273	Grayson County	Whitesboro Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(903) 564-4257	473	27	17.8	64.5%	333 (70.4%)	5 (1.1%)	102 (21.6%)	3 (0.6%)	7 (1.5%)	1 (0.2%)	22 (4.7%)	46.1	2327^th of 4627 public elementary schools	49.7%		42.4	2614^th of 4651 public elementary schools	43.8%	287			46.4	49.4	58.3			39.2	45.5	43.1				$7,597
Callisburg Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	648 Fm 3164	Gainesville	76240	Cooke County	Callisburg Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(940) 612-4196	531	37	14.3	46.7%	390 (73.4%)	3 (0.6%)	108 (20.3%)	3 (0.6%)	5 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (4.1%)	33.3	3203^rd of 4627 public elementary schools	30.8%		38	2923^rd of 4651 public elementary schools	37.2%	280			51.1	42.4	48.8			38.9	29.4	33.3				$7,176
Lindsay Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	625 Knight Dr	Lindsay	76250	Cooke County	Lindsay Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(940) 668-8923	268	22	12.4	7.1%	245 (91.4%)	4 (1.5%)	7 (2.6%)	2 (0.7%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (3.4%)	68.6	1205^th of 4627 public elementary schools	74.0%		70.3	1120^th of 4651 public elementary schools	75.9%	85			50.0	54.3	70.0	81.0		40.0	54.3	47.5	83.3			$7,309
Collinsville Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	500 Reeves	Collinsville	76233	Grayson County	Collinsville Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(903) 429-3077	302	20	14.7	45.7%	237 (78.5%)	1 (0.3%)	54 (17.9%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.3%)	1 (0.3%)	5 (1.7%)	52.3	1996^th of 4627 public elementary schools	56.9%		51	2080^th of 4651 public elementary schools	55.3%	84			52.8	56.5	44.4			37.7	48.9	61.1				$8,479
Muenster Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	912 N Walnut St	Muenster	76252	Cooke County	Muenster Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(940) 759-2281	311	21	14.9	23.2%	281 (90.4%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (6.4%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.6%)	84.7	586^th of 4627 public elementary schools	87.3%		89.3	396^th of 4651 public elementary schools	91.5%	190			66.7	63.2	68.8	69.1		71.4	73.7	56.3	71.4			$7,943

Frequently Asked Questions about Walnut Bend Elementary

What is the racial makeup of Walnut Bend Elementary?

Students at Walnut Bend Elementary are 64% White, 30% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races, 1% Pacific Islander.

What district is Walnut Bend Elementary in?

Walnut Bend Independent School District (Isd)

Is Walnut Bend Elementary a good school?

Walnut Bend Elementary ranks 1650^th of 4627 Texas elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Walnut Bend Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 73 students attended Walnut Bend Elementary.

Rate Walnut Bend Elementary!

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Latest Texas data All new data »

2025–26 STAAR, STAAR EOC & STAAR Spanish test scoresJun 12, 2026

2021–22 through 2023–24 school spending dataJan 10, 2026

2023–24 dropout rates & graduation ratesSep 17, 2025

2024–25 STAAR EOC & STAAR Spanish test scoresJun 23, 2025

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Texas Education Agency.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.