Summary:
The two public schools serving zip code 78956 (Schulenburg, TX) are both part of the Schulenburg Independent School District (Isd), which serves a community where a high percentage of students (nearly 70-78%) are economically disadvantaged. Schulenburg Secondary (grades 6-12, 411 students) is the standout school in the area, ranking in the 41st percentile statewide and showing a positive upward trend in its ranking over the last two years. It boasts a strong 95.3% graduation rate and a 0.0% dropout rate, with particular strengths in Biology and U.S. History, where proficiency rates are near the state average.
In contrast, Schulenburg Elementary (grades PK-5, 273 students) struggles significantly, ranking in the 12th percentile and scoring well below state averages in nearly every subject. For example, only 26.47% of 4th graders and 30% of 5th graders were proficient in Reading, compared to state averages of 53.04% and 58.47%. A critical concern is the "7th Grade Math Cliff," where math proficiency drops from a bright spot of 47.22% in 6th grade to just 8.11% in 7th grade, far below the state average of 29.41%. This suggests a breakdown in math instruction during the transition to secondary school.
Interestingly, the elementary school receives higher per-student funding ($13,162) than the secondary school ($11,976) but produces significantly worse academic outcomes, raising questions about resource allocation. The secondary school also has a more favorable student-teacher ratio (11.3:1) compared to the elementary school (15.6:1). While the district faces challenges related to high poverty, the secondary school demonstrates that effective instruction is possible in specific subjects, highlighting an inconsistency in academic performance across grade levels and departments.
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