Summary:
In zip code 78019, there is a single elementary school, Encinal Elementary, serving grades PK-5 in the rural community of Encinal, Texas, as part of the Cotulla Independent School District (Isd).
Encinal Elementary is a very small school with just 74 students and an exceptionally low student-teacher ratio of 7.6 to 1, meaning class sizes are very small. The school serves a high-need population, with over 85% of students eligible for free or reduced lunch. Despite spending a very high amount of $20,699 per student—roughly double the national average—academic performance is a significant concern. The school consistently ranks in the bottom 20% of Texas elementary schools, dropping to the 17th percentile in the most recent state rankings. This creates a notable paradox of high spending and low test scores that warrants attention.
Test scores show dramatic year-over-year declines and inconsistent performance across grades. For example, 4th-grade reading proficiency fell from 71% in 2024-2025 to just 36% in 2025-2026, while 4th-grade math dropped from 71% to 27% over the same period. In the most recent data, 5th graders performed better than 3rd graders, with 62.5% proficient in reading versus 16.67%, suggesting the current 3rd-grade cohort faces particular challenges. Science is a critical weakness, with only 8.33% of 5th graders proficient in the 2024-2025 school year. The school's volatile performance across subjects and years indicates a lack of a stable, school-wide instructional system, making it difficult for parents to predict academic outcomes from year to year.
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