Zundelowitz Elementary

Zundelowitz Elementary in Wichita Falls, TX, serves 514 students in grades K-5 within the Wichita Falls Independent School District (Isd), and it has consistently ranked among the lowest-performing elementary schools in Texas, earning a 0-star rating for six consecutive years.

This school faces significant academic challenges that set it apart from nearby schools. For example, in 5th Grade Reading, only 23% of Zundelowitz students were proficient, compared to 72% at Franklin Elementary and 60% at Milam Elementary. The disparity is especially striking when comparing Zundelowitz to Crockett Elementary, located just half a mile away. Both schools serve similar student populations, yet Crockett is a 3-star school in the 67th percentile, while Zundelowitz remains in the bottom 5th percentile. This suggests the struggles are likely due to school-specific factors like leadership or instruction, not the community itself. Over 90% of Zundelowitz students qualify for free or reduced lunch, and per-student spending ($10,654) is comparable to higher-performing neighbors, indicating funding is not the root cause.

Despite these challenges, there is a notable bright spot: the school's Spanish-language program. In 4th Grade Math, 67% of students taking the STAAR Spanish assessment were proficient, far exceeding the 32% on the English test and outperforming district and state averages. This success with English Language Learners provides a potential foundation for improvement. However, other subgroups, including African American, White, and Special Education students, consistently rank in the bottom 1-3% of the state. The school's history shows a decline from the 15th percentile in 2016-2017 to single digits since, suggesting past interventions have not been effective. For parents, the key takeaway is that Zundelowitz is a school in crisis, but the relative success of its bilingual program and the example of nearby Crockett Elementary show that improvement is possible with the right internal changes.