Summary:
This analysis examines six elementary schools in the 79707 zip code of Midland, Texas, all part of the Midland Independent School District (Isd), serving grades PK through 6 with enrollments ranging from 468 to 909 students.
Greathouse Elementary is the standout performer, ranking in the 80th percentile statewide with a 4-star rating, driven by the lowest economic disadvantage rate (35.32%) and top test scores—77.36% of 5th graders proficient in Reading versus 52.18% district-wide. In contrast, Rusk Elementary has declined from the 65th to 35th percentile, with 3rd-grade Math proficiency dropping from 45% to 28% in one year. Scharbauer Elementary shows a dramatic turnaround, jumping from the 19th to 70th percentile in two years, with 4th-grade Math rising from 51.47% to 73.08%. Bush Elementary spends the most per student ($11,114) and excels in upper-grade Math, with 6th-grade Math proficiency at 71.67%—nearly double the state average of 38.57%.
A key paradox emerges: Greathouse Elementary, the highest-ranked school, has the lowest per-student spending ($8,526) and highest student-teacher ratio (21.9:1), while Bush Elementary spends more but ranks lower (61st percentile). Science is a universal weakness—even top-performing Greathouse Elementary scored 21.1% in 5th-grade Science, below the state average of 29.57%. The average free/reduced lunch rate across schools is 57.4%, with Rusk Elementary highest at 67.25% and Greathouse Elementary lowest at 35.32%. STAAR tests taken in Spanish at Barbara Fasken Elementary and Rusk Elementary show very low proficiency, indicating challenges for English Language Learners.
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