Summary:
The five elementary schools in zip code 78721 serve students from Pre-K through 5th or 6th grade and are characterized by high levels of economic disadvantage, with all schools reporting a free/reduced lunch rate above 88%.
Ortega Elementary is the standout school in this area, earning a 3-star rating and ranking in the 56th percentile statewide for 2025-2026—a dramatic improvement from its previous 1-star ratings. It is the only school to exceed state averages in any subject, particularly in 5th-grade Reading (77.27% proficient) and 4th-grade Math (71.43% proficient). This success is notable given its high poverty rate (88.84% free/reduced lunch) and its low student-teacher ratio of 8.5:1, the lowest in the area. In contrast, Norman-Sims Elementary and The East Austin College Prep At Southwest Key are the lowest-performing schools, both consistently ranking in the bottom 2nd percentile or lower with 0-star ratings. They also have the highest poverty rates (95.26% and 95.6% respectively) and the most severe gaps compared to state averages. Harris Elementary and Idea Health Professions Academy fall in the middle, with rankings in the 6th and 23rd percentiles respectively.
Key metrics reveal that higher spending does not guarantee better performance. Norman-Sims Elementary has the highest per-student spending ($14,709) but is the lowest-ranked, while Ortega Elementary spends a similar amount ($13,957) and performs best. The student-teacher ratio appears to be a critical differentiator: the two highest-performing schools have the lowest ratios (8.5:1 and 10.5:1), while the two lowest-performing have the highest (19.7:1). Science scores are universally poor, with the highest proficiency rate at just 17.65% at Ortega Elementary and 0% at Harris Elementary and The East Austin College Prep At Southwest Key. The schools are split between the Austin Independent School District (Isd), Idea Public Schools, and Valere Public Schools.
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