Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 75751

This analysis examines three elementary schools in zip code 75751 (Athens, TX): Central Athens Elementary, Bel Air Elementary, and South Athens Elementary, all part of the Athens Independent School District (Isd), which serves a high-poverty community with over 78% of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch.

Central Athens Elementary stands out as the highest-performing school in the area, with the strongest state ranking (39th percentile) and the best recent test scores, including 56.25% proficiency in 4th Grade Reading and 58.57% in 5th Grade Reading. In contrast, Bel Air Elementary has experienced a dramatic decline, dropping from a 3-star rating to a 1-star rating over two years, despite having the highest spending per student ($10,318). South Athens Elementary shows volatility, having achieved the area's highest single subject score (62.5% in 5th Grade Reading in 2024-2025) but falling from a 4-star to a 1-star rating overall.

Key weaknesses are evident across all schools. Mathematics proficiency is critically low, with no school exceeding 37% average proficiency compared to the state average of 47%. Science scores are also poor, with only Central Athens Elementary (34.88%) exceeding the state average of 29.57%, while Bel Air Elementary (20%) and South Athens Elementary (21.88%) lag far behind. Notably, spending does not correlate with performance, as Bel Air Elementary spends the most but performs the worst, while South Athens Elementary spends the least but has shown flashes of strong reading results. The district's overall ranking (757 out of 951 in Texas) reflects these systemic challenges, particularly in math and science instruction.