Summary:
This analysis examines 12 elementary schools (serving grades PK-5) in the 78641 zip code of Leander, Texas, all part of the Leander Independent School District (Isd), which is ranked in the 79th percentile statewide.
The standout schools in this area are Monta Jane Akin Elementary, Tarvin Elementary, and Donald Lewis Hisle, which consistently rank in the top 12-16% of Texas elementary schools. These schools boast the highest test scores and the lowest free/reduced lunch rates (averaging just 8.2%). In contrast, Bagdad Elementary and Christine Camacho Elementary face the most significant challenges, ranking in the bottom 13% of the state with the highest free/reduced lunch rates (over 37%) and critically low test scores. A notable positive trend is seen at Larkspur Elementary, which jumped from the 46th to the 65th percentile in one year, suggesting effective interventions are being implemented.
A key finding is the "spending paradox": the lowest-performing schools, like Bagdad, have the highest per-student spending ($12,504), while the top-performing Akin has the lowest ($8,894). This indicates that spending alone does not predict success, as higher costs often reflect the need for additional support services. Across all schools, Mathematics scores are universally lower than Reading scores, and 5th-grade Science is a critical bottleneck, with an average proficiency of only 24.1%. Finally, Spanish-language STAAR tests at schools like Whitestone Elementary and Bagdad show proficiency rates as low as 0%, highlighting a critical need for targeted bilingual education support.
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