Summary:
The six elementary schools in San Antonio's 78209 zip code serve students from Pre-K through 5th grade (with one exception) and are spread across four districts, offering a wide range of academic environments from top-tier public schools to specialized charter programs.
The standout performers are Woodridge Elementary and Cambridge Elementary, both part of the highly-ranked Alamo Heights Independent School District (Isd). These two schools consistently achieve the highest STAAR test scores in the area, with Cambridge slightly edging out Woodridge in reading proficiency (72.52% vs. 67.33%). Notably, they accomplish this with lower per-student spending ($9,626 and $10,381) than other area schools, suggesting that factors like strong district leadership and a more affluent student body (with only 12.85% and 27.92% on free/reduced lunch) drive their success. In contrast, Northwood Elementary in North East Independent School District (Isd) shows volatile but promising results, with a dramatic spike in 2024-2025 test scores (including 100% proficiency in 6th Grade Math) before dropping in 2025-2026, indicating potential that may depend on specific student cohorts. Howard Elementary serves only Pre-K and Kindergarten, making it a feeder school without test scores to compare.
The charter schools present a mixed picture. Northeast Elementary Campus in Southwest Preparatory School has the highest per-student spending ($14,827) and the highest poverty rate (89.71% free/reduced lunch), yet its academic performance is the lowest in the area, with math proficiency at just 11.43%. This highlights the significant challenges of serving a high-needs population. Meanwhile, Celebrate Dyslexia School in Celebrate Dyslexia Schools has a specialized mission for students with dyslexia, so its low test scores (7.69% reading, 1.25% math) are expected and not comparable to traditional schools. Overall, the data reveals a clear socioeconomic divide, with schools serving fewer low-income families achieving far higher academic outcomes, while the charter schools struggle to overcome the challenges of poverty and specialized learning needs.
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