Summary:
The three elementary schools in zip code 79007 (Borger, TX) serve students from Pre-Kindergarten through 4th grade within the Borger Independent School District (Isd), a district facing significant socioeconomic challenges with an average of nearly 64% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch.
Crockett Elementary (Grades 3-4) is the only school with recent test scores, making it the district's academic bellwether, but its performance is volatile and below state averages. In the 2025-2026 school year, only 33% of 3rd graders and 45% of 4th graders were proficient in reading, compared to state averages of 51% and 53%, respectively. Math proficiency was similarly low at 28% for 3rd grade and 43% for 4th grade. Despite receiving the highest per-pupil spending ($9,850), Crockett also has the largest class sizes (17.4 students per teacher). In contrast, Gateway Elementary (Grades 1-2) spends the least per student ($9,102) but maintains the smallest class sizes (13.5), and its historical data shows it was once a high achiever, ranking in the 86th percentile statewide in 2003-2004. Paul Belton Elementary (Grades PK-K) serves as the foundation with the highest need, where 65% of its youngest students face economic disadvantage.
A key takeaway is the district's unique "pipeline" structure (PK-K, 1-2, 3-4) creates a data gap, making it impossible to track student growth until they reach Crockett Elementary. The consistent socioeconomic challenge across all three schools (62-65% free/reduced lunch) suggests the academic struggles are a systemic community-wide issue rather than a problem with any single school. The spending paradox—where the school with the highest funding (Crockett) has the largest classes and lowest test scores—indicates resources are not being used to reduce class sizes, and the district's overall 2-star rating reflects a significant decline from Gateway's historical peak two decades ago.
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