Summary:
In zip code 78002 (Atascosa, TX), there are two schools serving grades PK-8 within the Southwest Independent School District (Isd), a district ranked in the 30th percentile statewide, where both schools serve a high-poverty population with over 77% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch.
Elm Creek Elementary (grades PK-5, 805 students) stands out for its consistent improvement in state rankings, moving from the 40th percentile in 2023-2024 to the 57th percentile in 2024-2025, and maintaining a strong 54th percentile in 2025-2026. This upward trend is notable given the school's high poverty rate (77.52%). In contrast, Ronald E McNair Middle (grades 6-8, 784 students) excels in a specific area: an impressive 83.33% of 8th graders were proficient in Algebra I (STAAR EOC) in 2025-2026, far exceeding the district average of 31.55% and the state average of 54.03%. However, this creates a "two-track" system, as only 8.5% of 7th graders were proficient in grade-level math, highlighting a significant equity concern.
Key metrics show both schools are similarly sized with comparable per-student spending ($10,850 at Elm Creek, $11,244 at McNair). Elm Creek has a slightly higher student-teacher ratio (15.7:1) than McNair (13.9:1). A critical finding is the "middle school math cliff": math proficiency drops dramatically from 44.33% in 3rd grade at Elm Creek to just 29.06% in 6th grade and 8.5% in 7th grade at McNair. Additionally, elementary reading is a relative strength, with Elm Creek outperforming its district in all tested grades, while science remains a universal weakness at both schools. Spanish-language test takers at Elm Creek also score significantly lower than English-language test takers, indicating a need for targeted bilingual support.
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