Summary:
This analysis examines five elementary schools in the 78230 zip code of San Antonio, Texas, serving grades from Pre-Kindergarten through 5th grade (with one school serving PK-3), and representing a mix of traditional public schools from the Northside Independent School District (Isd) and North East Independent School District (Isd), as well as public charter schools from KIPP Texas Public Schools and the Eleanor Kolitz Hebrew Language Academy.
The standout school in this area is Eleanor Kolitz Hebrew Language Academy, which dramatically outperforms all others, earning a 5-star district rating and ranking in the 86th percentile statewide. It achieves the highest STAAR proficiency rates in reading and math while spending the least per student ($6,752) and having the lowest free/reduced lunch rate. In contrast, the three traditional public schools—Howsman Elementary, Colonial Hills Elementary, and Colonies North Elementary—all serve high-poverty populations (with free/reduced lunch rates above 77%) and struggle to meet state averages. Howsman Elementary shows a positive trajectory, jumping from the 16th to the 31st percentile, and its Spanish-language testing program reveals stronger math performance for bilingual students compared to state averages. KIPP Somos Pri, a PK-3 charter, serves a very high-poverty population but shows a notable strength in 4th-grade math, exceeding the state average.
A key takeaway is that higher spending does not guarantee better results: the two highest-spending schools, Colonial Hills Elementary ($11,373) and Colonies North Elementary ($11,427), are the lowest-ranked in the zip code (6th and 11th percentiles). Meanwhile, the highest-performing school spends the least. This suggests that factors like curriculum, teaching quality, and school culture are more critical than funding alone. For parents, Eleanor Kolitz Hebrew Language Academy is the clear academic leader, while Howsman Elementary offers a promising improvement story and a strong bilingual program.
Thank you for your feedback!