Summary:
This analysis examines four elementary schools in the 76708 zip code of Waco, Texas, serving grades PK-5 across two distinct districts: the high-performing China Spring Independent School District (Isd) and Bosqueville Independent School District (Isd), and the more challenged Waco Independent School District (Isd).
The standout high-performer is China Spring Elementary, which consistently ranks in the top 21% of Texas elementary schools and earns a 4-star rating. It serves a relatively low-poverty population (37.36% free/reduced lunch) and achieves strong STAAR scores, with average Reading proficiency at 60.5% and Math at 57.5%. In contrast, Brook Avenue Elementary is the lowest performer, ranking in the bottom 3% with a 0-star rating and serving a nearly universally impoverished student body (97.75% free/reduced lunch). Despite spending the most per student ($12,942), its test scores are dramatically below state averages, with Reading at 26.9% and Math at 22.3%. Bosqueville Elementary is a strong school (58th percentile) that outperforms the state in Reading but shows a notable weakness in Math, with only 30.91% of 3rd graders proficient. Cedar Ridge Elementary shows signs of improvement, rising from the 8th to the 11th percentile, with 5th-grade scores notably higher than its Waco ISD peer.
The most critical finding is that spending does not equal success: Brook Avenue spends $3,615 more per student than China Spring but achieves far lower results, highlighting that profound poverty challenges cannot be overcome by funding alone. The poverty-achievement gap is stark, with the two lower-poverty schools (China Spring and Bosqueville) meeting or exceeding state averages, while the two high-poverty Waco ISD schools fall far below in every subject. Bosqueville's inconsistent math scores suggest a potential area for improvement, while Cedar Ridge's upward trend indicates effective interventions may be taking hold in upper grades.
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