Summary:
This analysis examines 15 elementary schools in zip code 78520 (Brownsville, TX), serving grades PK-5, where the student population is predominantly economically disadvantaged, with an average free/reduced lunch rate of 88.5%.
Pullam Elementary stands out as the top academic performer, consistently ranking in the top 5-7% of Texas elementary schools and achieving STAAR scores well above state averages across all subjects. Jubilee Living Way, a charter school, shows remarkable improvement, jumping from the 66th to the 89th percentile in state rankings, with math scores like 83.33% proficient in 4th grade versus the state average of 49.28%. Benavides Elementary is a consistent high achiever, maintaining top 10-12% rankings with 5th-grade reading and math scores exceeding 80% proficient. In contrast, Skinner Elementary faces significant challenges, ranking in the bottom half of Texas schools with the highest free/reduced lunch rate (99.71%) and critically low test scores, such as 8.33% proficient in 5th-grade science.
Key metrics reveal an average student-teacher ratio of 16.1:1 and per-student spending averaging $11,697, though spending does not correlate with success—the highest-spending schools, Skinner ($16,226) and Garden Park Elementary ($14,369), are among the lowest-performing, while Pullam has one of the lowest spending levels ($9,924). Charter school performance varies widely, with Jubilee Living Way excelling while Harmony Science Academy - Brownsville ranks in the 30th percentile. Math is a relative strength for many schools, with Sharp Elementary achieving 87.27% proficient in 5th-grade math, nearly 40 points above the state average. However, 5th-grade science is a universal weakness, with most schools scoring below state averages, highlighting a systemic need for improved science instruction across the Brownsville Independent School District (Isd).
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