Bell's Hill Elementary

Summary:

Bell's Hill Elementary is a public elementary school in Waco, Texas, serving around 760 students in grades PK-5. The school has a predominantly Hispanic student population, with over 90% of students identifying as Hispanic. Bell's Hill Elementary is part of the Waco Independent School District, which is ranked 901 out of 968 districts in Texas and has a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Despite the challenges faced by its student population, which is over 95% eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, Bell's Hill Elementary consistently outperforms the Waco ISD average on STAAR assessments across grades and subjects. In 2023-2024, the school had significantly higher proficiency rates than the Waco ISD and Texas state averages in 5th grade Reading, Mathematics, and Science. The school's performance is particularly strong for its African American and Hispanic student subgroups, ranking in the top 36% of Texas elementary schools for its low-socioeconomic status (SES) students.

Compared to nearby schools within the Waco ISD, such as J.H. Hines Elementary, South Waco Elementary, and West Avenue Elementary, Bell's Hill Elementary generally outperforms them on STAAR assessments. However, the nearby Crestview Elementary has shown stronger performance in certain areas, such as 5th grade Mathematics and Science. Overall, Bell's Hill Elementary stands out as a relatively high-performing school within the Waco ISD, particularly for its Hispanic and African American students, despite the significant socioeconomic challenges faced by its student population.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

 2100 Ross
       Waco, TX  76706


(254) 754-4171

District: Waco Independent School District (Isd)

SchoolDigger Rank:
3713th of 4,675 Texas Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $11,740 Help


Students who attend Bell's Hill Elementary usually attend:

Middle:    Cesar Chavez Middle
High:    University High School

Student/teacher ratio:  15.0 Help
Number of students:  760

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
93.6%
African American:
4.9%
White:
1.4%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  96.2% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Bell's Hill Elementary ranks worse than 79.4% of elementary schools in Texas. It also ranks 3rd among 15 ranked elementary schools in the Waco Independent School District (Isd). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 25.55. (See more...)
Student Body
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Compare Details Bell's Hill Elementary has the largest elementary school student body size in the Waco Independent School District (Isd). Racial makeup is: Hispanic (93.6%), African American (4.9%), White (1.4%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 96.2% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
Help
Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Bell's Hill Elementary is 15. 9 elementary schools in the Waco Independent School District (Isd) have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
Help
Compare Bell's Hill Elementary employs 50.5 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Bell's Hill Elementary is $11,740. 7 elementary schools in the Waco Independent School District (Isd) spend more per student.
Schooldigger Rankings:

Bell's Hill Elementary was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

Waco Independent School District (Isd):

SchoolDigger ranks Waco Independent School District (Isd) 901st of 968 Texas school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Bell's Hill Elementary

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Bell's Hill Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 34.94 2678th 3465 22.7%
2005 26.90 2951st 3475 15.1%
2006 29.74 2854th 3476 17.9%
2007 37.70 2781st 3724 25.3%
2008 24.92 3287th 3768 12.8%
2009 29.95 3197th 3884 17.7%
2010 52.94 2175th 3937 44.8%
2011 46.84 2609th 4095 36.3%
2012 34.48 3189th 4206 24.2%
2013 21.56 3737th 4221 11.5%
2014 28.09 3489th 4260 18.1%
2015 33.39 3185th 4320 26.3%
2016 30.07 3287th 4286 23.3%
2017 26.84 3349th 4329 22.6%
2018 42.28 2412th 4359 44.7%
2019 58.37 1602nd 4479 64.2%
2021 41.93 2449th 4578 46.5%
2022 40.58 2701st 4581 41.0%
2023 44.54 2503rd 4647 46.1%
2024 25.55 3713th 4675 20.6%
See the entire list of Texas Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Bell's Hill Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 42.13 1916th 3226 40.6%
2019 55.39 1297th 3333 61.1%
2021 49.96 1474th 3446 57.2%
2022 46.93 1821st 3487 47.8%
2023 40.13 2259th 3556 36.5%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Bell's Hill Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 28.47 2814th 3558 20.9%
2019 38.25 2184th 3684 40.7%
2021 40.62 2008th 3799 47.1%
2022 33.44 2772nd 3952 29.9%
2023 24.85 3488th 4086 14.6%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Bell's Hill Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 57.96 1505th 4264 64.7%
2019 76.13 535th 4309 87.6%
2021 52.06 1878th 4451 57.8%
2022 52.53 1985th 4477 55.7%
2023 58.30 1636th 4521 63.8%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Bell's Hill Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 45.88 2237th 4306 48.0%
2019 65.68 1208th 4348 72.2%
2021 43.86 2365th 4499 47.4%
2022 43.58 2548th 4561 44.1%
2023 38.00 2912th 4588 36.5%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at Bell's Hill Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 19.81 2849th 3106 8.3%
2019 45.57 2201st 3184 30.9%
2021 30.58 2325th 3006 22.7%
2022 26.98 2558th 2958 13.5%
2023 44.39 2128th 2980 28.6%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for Gifted and Talented Students!

Rank History for At Risk students at Bell's Hill Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 50.67 1892nd 4240 55.4%
2019 65.73 1016th 4295 76.3%
2021 53.12 1624th 4331 62.5%
2022 56.39 1652nd 4461 63.0%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for At Risk Students!

Rank History for Male students at Bell's Hill Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 40.07 2549th 4319 41.0%
2019 51.36 1934th 4357 55.6%
2021 40.43 2531st 4498 43.7%
2022 39.01 2793rd 4563 38.8%
2023 50.46 2132nd 4585 53.5%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at Bell's Hill Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 42.30 1456th 2515 42.1%
2021 27.39 1971st 2444 19.4%
2022 49.68 1096th 2421 54.7%
2023 51.17 1031st 2443 57.8%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Bell's Hill Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 49.71 1955th 4168 53.1%
2019 67.69 984th 4188 76.5%
2021 50.50 1913th 4329 55.8%
2022 46.76 2316th 4376 47.1%
2023 53.12 1867th 4401 57.6%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Bell's Hill Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 14.68 2861st 3082 7.2%
2022 37.86 2124th 3082 31.1%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Texas Education Agency, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Bell's Hill Elementary Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 





Data source: Texas Education Agency

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Enrollment information for Bell's Hill Elementary

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1989 24 56 1 208 0 n/a n/a 0 289
1990 52 114 1 532 0 n/a n/a 0 699
1991 41 111 1 531 0 n/a n/a 0 684
1992 52 110 2 563 0 n/a n/a 0 727
1993 42 51 1 555 0 n/a n/a 0 649
1994 39 51 1 551 0 n/a n/a 0 642
1995 27 34 0 478 0 n/a n/a 0 539
1996 27 34 0 478 0 n/a n/a 0 539
1997 27 25 0 594 0 n/a n/a 0 646
1998 21 23 0 553 0 n/a n/a 0 597
1999 28 23 0 538 1 n/a n/a 0 590
2000 24 21 0 541 0 n/a n/a 0 586
2001 20 21 0 543 0 n/a n/a 0 584
2002 25 14 0 545 0 n/a n/a 0 584
2003 25 14 0 545 0 n/a n/a 0 584
2004 19 14 0 563 0 n/a n/a 0 596
2005 12 17 0 533 0 n/a n/a 0 562
2006 14 15 0 484 0 n/a n/a 0 513
2007 2 19 0 505 0 n/a n/a 0 526
2008 7 27 0 498 1 n/a n/a 0 533
2009 6 15 0 478 0 n/a n/a 0 499
2010 8 20 0 477 0 n/a n/a 0 505
2011 2 16 0 475 1 0 1 0 495
2012 5 21 0 420 1 0 1 0 448
2013 20 78 0 801 14 1 1 0 915
2014 23 31 0 752 2 0 0 0 808
2015 19 25 0 770 0 0 2 0 816
2016 15 26 0 745 0 0 1 0 787
2017 24 28 0 722 0 0 1 0 775
2018 19 34 0 700 0 0 1 0 754
2019 17 35 0 720 1 0 2 0 775
2020 14 42 1 676 0 0 3 0 736
2021 20 27 0 677 0 0 5 0 729
2022 20 35 0 700 0 0 2 0 757
2023 11 37 0 711 0 0 1 0 760

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Bell's Hill Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1989 289 n/a n/a n/a
1990 699 41.0 17.0 n/a
1991 684 41.4 16.5 n/a
1992 727 44.5 16.3 91.6
1993 649 42.0 15.5 95.1
1994 642 40.6 15.8 90.8
1995 539 41.4 13.0 83.3
1996 539 41.4 13.0 83.3
1997 646 38.0 17.0 84.2
1998 597 39.7 15.0 89.4
1999 590 38.8 15.2 93.4
2000 586 37.6 15.6 95.1
2001 584 39.8 14.7 96.4
2002 584 37.5 15.6 97.9
2003 584 37.5 15.6 97.9
2004 596 39.0 15.3 95.8
2005 562 37.0 15.2 97.5
2006 513 34.9 14.7 91
2007 526 35.0 15.0 93.5
2008 533 35.0 15.2 92.5
2009 499 33.0 15.1 89
2010 505 33.3 15.1 96.4
2011 495 32.6 15.1 96.4
2012 448 26.0 17.2 98.2
2013 915 48.7 18.7 92.9
2014 808 45.8 17.6 96.4
2015 816 48.0 17.0 97.4
2016 787 48.0 16.3 98
2017 775 46.9 16.5 96.9
2018 754 49.9 15.0 96
2019 775 50.0 15.5 93.7
2020 736 49.4 14.8 95.9
2021 729 47.0 15.5 96.4
2022 757 49.5 15.2 94.8
2023 760 50.5 15.0 96.2

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Bell's Hill Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1989 289 n/a n/a n/a
1990 699 41.0 17.0 n/a
1991 684 41.4 16.5 n/a
1992 727 44.5 16.3 91.6
1993 649 42.0 15.5 95.1
1994 642 40.6 15.8 90.8
1995 539 41.4 13.0 83.3
1996 539 41.4 13.0 83.3
1997 646 38.0 17.0 84.2
1998 597 39.7 15.0 89.4
1999 590 38.8 15.2 93.4
2000 586 37.6 15.6 95.1
2001 584 39.8 14.7 96.4
2002 584 37.5 15.6 97.9
2003 584 37.5 15.6 97.9
2004 596 39.0 15.3 95.8
2005 562 37.0 15.2 97.5
2006 513 34.9 14.7 91
2007 526 35.0 15.0 93.5
2008 533 35.0 15.2 92.5
2009 499 33.0 15.1 89
2010 505 33.3 15.1 96.4
2011 495 32.6 15.1 96.4
2012 448 26.0 17.2 98.2
2013 915 48.7 18.7 92.9
2014 808 45.8 17.6 96.4
2015 816 48.0 17.0 97.4
2016 787 48.0 16.3 98
2017 775 46.9 16.5 96.9
2018 754 49.9 15.0 96
2019 775 50.0 15.5 93.7
2020 736 49.4 14.8 95.9
2021 729 47.0 15.5 96.4
2022 757 49.5 15.2 94.8
2023 760 50.5 15.0 96.2

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Bell's Hill Elementary

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $1,367 (13.5%) $8,787 (86.5%) $10,154
2020 $1,411 (13.0%) $9,411 (87.0%) $10,822
2021 $1,666 (14.2%) $10,073 (85.8%) $11,740

Data source: Texas Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Bell's Hill Elementary

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 1602nd of 4479 Elementary schoolsRanks 2503rd of 4647 Elementary schools
 18.1%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade Reading (Bell's Hill Elementary)3939
   3rd Grade Reading (Waco Independent School District (Isd))2727
   3rd Grade Reading (Texas)4450
 6%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Bell's Hill Elementary)4731
 16%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Waco Independent School District (Isd))2520
 5%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Texas)4843
 5%
4th Grade Reading (Bell's Hill Elementary)4033
 7%
   4th Grade Reading (Waco Independent School District (Isd))2525
   4th Grade Reading (Texas)4347
 4%
4th Grade Mathematics (Bell's Hill Elementary)4321
 22%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Waco Independent School District (Isd))2717
 10%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Texas)4647
 1%
5th Grade Reading (Bell's Hill Elementary)5962
 3%
   5th Grade Reading (Waco Independent School District (Isd))3437
 3%
   5th Grade Reading (Texas)5156
 5%
5th Grade Mathematics (Bell's Hill Elementary)6559
 6%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Waco Independent School District (Isd))3829
 9%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Texas)5650
 6%
5th Grade Science (Bell's Hill Elementary)5940
 19%
   5th Grade Science (Waco Independent School District (Isd))3423
 11%
   5th Grade Science (Texas)4834
 14%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students775760
 1.9%
African American3537
 5.7%
American Indian10
 100%
Asian00
Hispanic720711
 1.3%
Pacific Islander00
White1711
 35.3%
Two or More Races21
 50%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients93.7%96.2%
 2.5%


Schools Near Bell's Hill Elementary









Frequently Asked Questions about Bell's Hill Elementary

In the 2022-23 school year, 760 students attended Bell's Hill Elementary.

Students who attend Bell's Hill Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Cesar Chavez Middle
High : University High School

Students at Bell's Hill Elementary are 94% Hispanic, 5% African American, 1% White.

Bell's Hill Elementary ranks in the bottom 20.6% of Texas elementary schools.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Texas Education Agency.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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