Summary:
This analysis examines 16 elementary schools in the 78744 zip code of Austin, Texas, serving grades PK-5 across six districts, an area characterized by high economic disadvantage with an average free/reduced lunch rate of 85.5%.
The standout school in this area is Blazier Elementary (Austin Independent School District), the largest school with 1,275 students and the only one to achieve a consistent 3-star rating for three consecutive years, ranking in the 63rd percentile statewide. In contrast, Widen Elementary (AISD) is the most challenged, ranking in the 1st percentile for two years despite having the highest per-student spending ($16,988). Palm Elementary (AISD) shows strong improvement, jumping to the 60th percentile with exceptional 5th-grade Reading scores (70.27% proficient). Within Del Valle Independent School District, Newton Collins Elementary stands out with a 3-star rating and 5th-grade Reading scores (59.18%) that beat the state average. Charter school performance is mixed, with Harmony School Of Innovation - Austin (Harmony Public Schools - Central Texas) earning a 3-star rating, while Idea Bluff Springs Academy (Idea Public Schools) and KIPP Paseo Pri (KIPP Texas Public Schools) rank in the 5th and 14th percentiles respectively.
A key finding is that high spending does not guarantee high performance, as Widen Elementary spends the most but achieves the worst outcomes, while Blazier spends less and excels. Science is a universal weakness across the zip code, with 5th-grade Science scores critically low at schools like Hillcrest Elementary (3.77% proficient) and Rodriguez Elementary (2.94% proficient). Bilingual programs show promise at Palm Elementary, where Spanish Reading scores far exceed state averages, but struggle at schools like Widen and Houston Elementary (AISD). The average student-teacher ratio is a favorable 13.9:1, but the concentration of poverty above 90% at struggling AISD schools like Langford Elementary and Perez Elementary correlates strongly with lower academic performance.
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