Summary:
The four schools in zip code 78264 (San Antonio, TX) are all part of the Southside Independent School District (Isd), serving grades 1 through 12 in a community with a high level of economic disadvantage, where an average of 85% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.
Heritage Elementary is the standout school in the area, consistently earning a 3-star or 4-star rating and ranking in the top 30-35% of Texas elementary schools. It outperforms both district and state averages in 4th and 5th grade Reading and Mathematics, despite serving a population with an 87.93% free/reduced lunch rate. In contrast, Freedom Elementary serves a similarly high-poverty population (91.23%) but ranks much lower, in the 39th percentile, showing that factors like school leadership and teaching quality drive performance differences. Julius L Matthey Middle shows a concerning "slump," with 8th-grade Social Studies scores (28.64%) well below state averages, and its ranking has declined. Southside Alter Center is a unique alternative high school with only 22 students, reporting a 0.0% dropout rate and a low student-teacher ratio of 12.8:1, suggesting it effectively serves students who may not thrive in a traditional setting.
Key metrics show per-student spending varies widely, from $12,559 at Heritage Elementary to $5,643 at Southside Alter Center. A notable strength across both elementary schools is their bilingual programs, with Heritage and Freedom both scoring above state averages on STAAR Spanish exams in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade. Overall, while Heritage Elementary and Southside Alter Center demonstrate strong outcomes, Freedom Elementary and Julius L Matthey Middle face significant academic challenges, making school choice critical for parents in this zip code.
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