Summary:
Zip code 78385, serving the rural community of Sarita, Texas, is home to a single school, Sarita Elementary, which educates 126 students from Pre-Kindergarten through 6th grade as part of the Kenedy County Wide Central School District.
Sarita Elementary stands out for its exceptional performance in reading and science, balanced against significant challenges in mathematics. In the 2025-2026 school year, 6th graders achieved a perfect 100% proficiency in reading, and 5th graders reached 87.5%, both well above state averages. Science is a clear strength, with 100% of 5th graders proficient in 2024-2025—more than triple the state average of 29.57%. However, math scores tell a different story: only 14.29% of 6th graders were proficient in math in 2025-2026, and 4th graders scored just 33.33%. This stark contrast between subjects suggests a systemic strength in literacy instruction and a critical need for targeted math support. The school benefits from a highly personalized learning environment, with a student-teacher ratio of 11:1 and spending of $26,183 per student, which is exceptionally high and likely reflects the advantages of a small, rural district.
Performance at Sarita Elementary is notably volatile from year to year, a common trait in small schools where a single class of students can dramatically shift percentages. For example, 3rd-grade reading dropped from 83.33% to 46.15% between 2024-2025 and 2025-2026, while 6th-grade reading soared from 45.45% to 100%. This fluctuation is reflected in the school’s state ranking, which moved from the 58th percentile (3 stars) in 2023-2024 to the 77th percentile (4 stars) in 2024-2025, then back to the 68th percentile (3 stars) in 2025-2026. Despite high resource investment, the persistent weakness in math remains a puzzle, indicating a need for a specialized curriculum rather than additional funding. The school’s 100% science proficiency rate offers a model that could be applied to improve math instruction.
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