Summary:
In zip code 79504, there is one elementary school, Baird Elementary, which serves grades PK through 5 in the Baird Independent School District (Isd) and has a total enrollment of 208 students.
Baird Elementary is a school of contrasts, with notable strengths in upper grades and significant challenges in early elementary. The school has a favorable student-teacher ratio of 12.6:1 and spends $12,975 per student. However, its state ranking has declined from the 55th percentile in 2023-2024 to the 30th percentile in 2025-2026, now earning a 2-star rating. The school serves a predominantly economically disadvantaged population, with 72.6% of students receiving free or reduced lunch.
The most striking finding is the "5th Grade Bounce," where students dramatically improve by the time they reach 5th grade. In Reading, 3rd graders score 30.77% proficient (20 points below the state average), but 5th graders reach 63.16% (nearly 5 points above the state). In Mathematics, the improvement is even more dramatic: 3rd graders score just 11.54% proficient (33 points below the state), while 5th graders achieve 52.63% (over 5 points above the state). Science is a clear strength, with 5th graders scoring 58.33% proficient in 2024-2025, nearly double the state average of 29.57%. Despite these internal improvements, the school's overall ranking has dropped because other schools across Texas are improving at a faster rate. The 3rd Grade Math proficiency rate of 11.54% is the single weakest metric and represents a critical foundational challenge that the school successfully addresses by 5th grade.
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