Summary:
Zip code 78639 in Kingsland, Texas, is home to two very different schools: Packsaddle Elementary, a traditional public school serving grades PK-5, and Kingsland School, an alternative public charter school serving grades K-12.
Packsaddle Elementary is a larger school with 630 students and a high rate of economic disadvantage, with 79% of students eligible for free or reduced lunch. It consistently scores below both its district, Llano Independent School District (Isd), and the state average, earning a 1-star rating in the 28th percentile. A critical weakness is 5th-grade science, where only 14.81% of students were proficient, less than half the state average. In contrast, Kingsland School is a small K-12 charter with 145 students that shows dramatic performance swings. Its high school End-of-Course exams are exceptional, with 100% proficiency in Biology and 87.5% in Algebra I, far exceeding state averages. However, its elementary grades struggle, with 0% proficiency in 3rd-grade math and reading, and its English II Reading proficiency was only 20%.
Both schools spend a similar amount per student (around $11,500-$11,800), suggesting funding differences do not explain the outcome gaps. A key takeaway is that after 5th grade, Packsaddle Elementary students must leave the zip code for traditional public middle or high school, making Kingsland School the only local option for grades 6-12. This creates a unique dynamic where families must choose between a consistent but underperforming elementary school and a volatile charter that excels with older students but struggles with younger ones.
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