Summary:
In zip code 79013, there is one elementary school, Cactus Elementary, serving grades PK through 4 in Cactus, Texas, with a total enrollment of 487 students.
Cactus Elementary is a school facing significant academic challenges, with state rankings in the bottom percentile for three consecutive years, though there is a slight improvement from the 3rd percentile in 2023-2024 to the 14th percentile in 2025-2026. The school's average proficiency across all tested subjects (3rd and 4th grade Reading and Math) is 32.6%, which is nearly 20 percentage points below the district average of 52.2% and 17 points below the state average of 49.4%. A notable finding is a "math paradox": in 2024-2025, 3rd graders performed better in Math (34.09% proficient) than Reading (27.27%), but by 4th grade, Math proficiency dropped sharply to 17.81%, while Reading held relatively steady at 23.29%. The school serves a student body with very high economic need, as 94.05% of students are eligible for free or reduced lunch, and the student-teacher ratio is 14.5:1.
This school is part of the Dumas Independent School District (Isd), which overall ranks in the 60th percentile statewide and holds a 3-star rating, indicating above-average performance. The stark contrast between the district's success and Cactus Elementary's struggles suggests the school is an outlier facing unique challenges that require targeted support. Per-student spending is $11,572, which, given the poor academic outcomes, raises questions about how funds are allocated to address the specific needs of a high-poverty population. The slight upward trend in state ranking offers a glimmer of hope that recent interventions may be starting to have a positive effect.
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