Summary:
Merkel Independent School District (ISD) in Texas has only one elementary school, Merkel Elementary, which serves students from pre-kindergarten through 5th grade. The school's performance has declined over the past three years, with its statewide ranking dropping from 2266 out of 4581 Texas elementary schools in 2021-2022 to 2720 out of 4675 in 2023-2024, earning a 2-star rating out of 5.
Merkel Elementary's student population is diverse, with 69.2% White, 26.73% Hispanic, and smaller percentages of other racial/ethnic groups. However, the school has a high percentage of economically disadvantaged students, with 60% eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. Despite this, the school has a relatively low student-teacher ratio of 14.3, which could be an attempt to provide more individualized attention and support for the students.
Academically, Merkel Elementary struggles, with its STAAR test scores generally below the state average, particularly in reading and science. For example, in 2023-2024, only 25.84% of 3rd-grade students were proficient or better in reading, compared to the state average of 48.85%. This suggests that the school and Merkel ISD may need to implement targeted strategies to improve academic outcomes and better serve the needs of their diverse and economically disadvantaged student population.
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