Summary:
Zip code 77640 in Port Arthur, Texas, is home to two elementary schools—Dequeen Elementary (grades 3-5) and Washington Elementary (Pre-K through 2nd grade)—both part of the Port Arthur Independent School District (ISD), which ranks in the 11th percentile statewide and serves a community with high economic need.
Both schools are similarly sized, with Dequeen enrolling 232 students and Washington enrolling 223, and both report that over 90% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. Student-teacher ratios are favorable at 9.8:1 and 10.1:1, respectively, and per-student spending is above the national average ($16,589 at Dequeen, $15,278 at Washington). However, academic data is only available for Dequeen, which shows proficiency rates significantly below state averages—for example, 5th-grade reading proficiency at 32.43% versus the state average of about 54%. Washington Elementary has no recent test scores or rankings, creating a "data desert" that makes direct comparison impossible.
Despite the challenges, Dequeen Elementary shows a clear upward trend, with proficiency improving in 5 out of 6 grade-subject combinations from 2024-2025 to 2025-2026. The most dramatic gain was in 3rd-grade reading, which rose 36% from 16.67% to 22.73%. Fifth graders are a "bright spot," achieving the highest proficiency in both reading (32.43%) and math (32%). However, a critical weakness exists in 5th-grade science, where only 9.38% of students were proficient—the lowest score across all subjects. The high per-student spending and low class sizes suggest resources are being directed toward student needs, but the low academic outcomes indicate that additional factors—such as curriculum or support services—require attention to translate investment into stronger results.
Thank you for your feedback!