Best Public Schools in Zip Code 79720

The five public schools in zip code 79720, all part of the Big Spring Independent School District (Isd), serve a predominantly economically disadvantaged student population from Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade, with a total enrollment of about 2,886 students. Washington Elementary stands out as the district's academic bright spot, significantly exceeding state averages in 4th Grade Math despite having the highest poverty rate (79.75% free/reduced lunch). In contrast, Big Spring High School consistently ranks in the bottom third of Texas high schools, with test scores below state averages in all core subjects, though it maintains a solid 90% graduation rate. Big Spring Intermediate shows a notable "middle school dip," with 6th Grade Math proficiency dropping to 28.76% from 36.79% in 5th Grade, indicating a critical transition point for student learning.

Key metrics reveal a district-wide academic challenge, as every tested subject and grade level falls below the Texas state average. Per-student spending is relatively consistent, ranging from $9,293 at Marcy Elementary to $11,420 at Washington Elementary, while student-to-teacher ratios vary significantly from 11.9:1 at the high school to 18.3:1 at Moss Elementary. The district's high poverty rates, with free/reduced lunch eligibility ranging from 64.15% at Big Spring High School to 79.75% at Washington Elementary, underscore the economic challenges facing these schools. The high school's dropout rate of 2.1% is also notably higher than the district average of 1.6%.

Interesting findings include the "Washington Elementary Paradox," where the school with the highest poverty rate achieves the strongest academic results in 4th Grade Math, suggesting effective instructional strategies worth replicating. However, data limitations create blind spots: Marcy Elementary lacks recent test scores (last ranked in 2016-2017), and Moss Elementary (serving PK-K) has no standardized test data at all, making it impossible to assess the academic health of the district's youngest learners. While Big Spring High School shows slight improvement in Algebra I and Biology, progress is inconsistent across subjects, indicating subject-specific rather than school-wide improvement efforts.