Summary:
The three elementary schools in zip code 79720 (Big Spring, TX) are part of the Big Spring Independent School District (Isd) and serve grades Pre-K through 4th, with a combined enrollment of 1,382 students in a high-poverty area where free/reduced lunch rates range from 72% to nearly 80%.
Washington Elementary stands out as the most notable school, showing a dramatic improvement in state ranking from the 6th percentile in 2016-2017 to the 47th percentile in 2025-2026, placing it in the top half of Texas elementary schools. However, this school has a stark academic divide: while 60.52% of 4th graders were proficient in Math (well above the state average of 49.28%), only 35.68% were proficient in Reading (well below the state average of 53.04%). In contrast, Marcy Elementary has historically struggled, with state rankings consistently in the bottom 1-6% from 2014-2017, though it has the lowest poverty rate (72.12%) and the smallest class sizes (16.9:1 student-teacher ratio). Moss Elementary was the most "average" historically, ranking in the 41st percentile in 2016-2017, but lacks recent test score data.
A key takeaway is that spending does not directly correlate with performance: Washington receives the highest per-student funding ($11,420) yet faces significant reading challenges, while Marcy spends the least ($9,293) but has a slightly lower poverty rate. The feeder pattern creates a "black box" for early grades, as Moss (Pre-K to Kindergarten) and Marcy (1st-2nd) have no recent test scores, making it impossible to assess foundational learning before students reach Washington for STAAR testing. Despite reading struggles, Washington's consistent upward trajectory in rankings suggests recent reforms are having a positive impact, making it a school to watch for improvement.
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