Summary:
Zip code 79821, covering the towns of Vinton and Anthony, Texas, is home to two elementary schools serving grades PK-5: Bill Childress Elementary in Canutillo Independent School District (Isd) and Anthony Elementary in Anthony Independent School District (Isd), both of which serve student populations where over 75% qualify for free or reduced lunch.
Bill Childress Elementary is the clear standout, ranking in the 63rd percentile statewide (3-star rating) for the 2025-2026 school year, compared to Anthony Elementary’s 26th percentile (1-star rating). Bill Childress has shown consistent improvement, climbing from the 53rd to the 63rd percentile over three years, while Anthony Elementary, though improving from a very low 8th percentile, still struggles. Bill Childress outperforms Anthony in nearly every subject and grade level; for example, in 5th Grade Reading (2025-2026), Bill Childress scored 59.65% proficient versus Anthony’s 50%, and the gap widens in 4th Grade Math (59.02% vs. 37.84%). Bill Childress also benefits from a lower student-teacher ratio (12.4:1 vs. 14.8:1) and slightly higher spending per student ($13,560 vs. $12,939), suggesting more effective resource use.
A notable finding is Bill Childress’s Spanish-language STAAR program, where 3rd graders taking the math exam in Spanish scored 41.67% proficient, outperforming the 35.29% taking it in English, indicating the bilingual program effectively builds foundational skills. However, both schools share a critical weakness in 5th Grade Science, with Bill Childress at 19.05% proficient and Anthony at 15.09%, both far below the state average of 29.57%, pointing to a systemic need for improved science instruction across the zip code.
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