Summary:
This analysis examines three elementary schools (PK-5) in Lubbock, TX (zip code 79415), all part of the Lubbock Independent School District (Isd), which serves a highly economically disadvantaged student population with free/reduced lunch rates ranging from 90.7% to 95.5%.
McWhorter Elementary stands out as the strongest performer, achieving a 3-star rating and the highest state percentile rank (31st) for the 2025-2026 school year, significantly ahead of Carmona-Harrison Elementary (4th percentile) and Wolffarth Elementary (15th percentile). McWhorter also boasts a highly effective bilingual program, with Spanish-language STAAR Reading scores far exceeding district and state averages. Conversely, Carmona-Harrison is the most challenged school, with the lowest test scores, the highest percentage of students on free/reduced lunch (95.5%), and the largest student-teacher ratio (15.2:1). Wolffarth, the smallest school with 282 students, has the highest spending per student ($11,127) but has experienced the most dramatic decline in state ranking, dropping from the 63rd to the 15th percentile in two years.
A critical weakness across all three schools is 5th-grade Science, with proficiency rates (8.96% at Carmona-Harrison, 5.71% at Wolffarth, and 19.67% at McWhorter) drastically below the state average of 29.57%. Additionally, all schools are on a downward trajectory in state rankings, suggesting systemic challenges in the area. While McWhorter remains the top choice, its decline from the 61st to the 31st percentile is notable. The data also reveals a spending vs. performance paradox: Wolffarth’s higher spending has not prevented its sharp decline, while McWhorter achieves better results with lower spending ($10,157 per student), highlighting that resource allocation effectiveness is key.
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