Summary:
This analysis examines eight elementary schools serving Pre-Kindergarten through 5th grade in the 77642 zip code of Port Arthur, Texas, a community where an average of 88.3% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, indicating significant economic challenges.
The educational landscape in this zip code is defined by a stark contrast between two high-performing charter schools and six struggling traditional public schools within the Port Arthur Independent School District (Isd). Bob Hope School - Elementary Campus is the clear standout, ranking in the 88th percentile statewide with 5th graders achieving 80.77% proficiency in reading and 75.93% in math, far exceeding state averages. Remarkably, it achieves these results with the lowest per-student spending ($8,537) and the highest student-teacher ratio (20.9). Tekoa Academy Of Accelerated Studies presents a dramatic turnaround story, jumping from the 5th percentile to the 76th percentile in one year, with 5th grade math proficiency soaring from 26.32% to 81.25%. In contrast, Port Acres Elementary (2nd percentile) and Travis Elementary (4th percentile) are the lowest-performing schools, with critically low test scores like Port Acres' 10% 5th grade math proficiency.
The data reveals that spending does not guarantee success, as the highest-spending school (Tekoa at $19,049 per student) is a mid-tier performer while the lowest-spending school (Bob Hope) is the top performer. The six Port Arthur ISD schools all rank in the bottom 12% of the state, while the two charter schools rank in the top 25%, suggesting different educational models produce vastly different outcomes for students in the same community. Other schools like Houston Elementary, Tyrrell Elementary, Staff Sergeant Lucian Adams Elementary, and Lakeview Elementary fall in the middle, with rankings between the 6th and 12th percentiles, performing below state averages but above the lowest-performing schools.
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