How strong are the public elementary schools in Austin?
With a fresh school year around the corner, we analyzed newly released data from Niche.com, which incorporates comprehensive report cards, rankings and reviews to help you choose the right school, to identify those schools that made the biggest strides last year, as well as those that top the city's best public elementary school rankings.
Reilly Elementary School's overall rating improved the most among its peers in Austin, rising from a C+ to a B, according to data from Niche.
For the 2019-2020 school year, the school, located at 405 Denson Drive, enrolls 268 students. Reilly Elementary School serves a diverse population: 78% of students identify as Hispanic. Niche graded the school a B- for academics (on an A-D scale).
The overall ranking comes from Niche's proprietary algorithms. A school's ranking might change due to many factors, including the relative rankings of similar schools and whether a school gained or lost peers due to openings or closings. Other numbers come from current public data from the U.S. government.
Academically, 77% of Reilly Elementary School's students scored proficient or above in math, and 67% did so in reading. That's compared to city averages of 80% in math and 77% in reading. The school's improved rating is notable since it serves a less affluent population, with 69% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, 17% more than the city average.
It's not the only school that's climbed Niche's rankings this year. Harris Elementary School saw its overall rating increase from a C+ to a B-. The school is located at 1711 Wheless Lane and is much larger, currently serving 615 students, of whom 81% identify as Hispanic and 12% identify as black.
Niche graded Harris Elementary School a C+ for academics on an A-D scale. Harris Elementary School's latest math proficiency was at 69%, and reading proficiency was 60%.
River Oaks Elementary School also improved, from a B- to a B. The school is located at 12401 Scofield Farms Drive and has 544 students currently enrolled, of whom 57% identify as Hispanic, 25% identify as black and 14% identify as white.
Niche graded River Oaks Elementary School a B- for academics on an A-D scale. River Oaks Elementary School's latest math proficiency was at 78%, and reading proficiency was 68%. It also serves a less affluent community, with 78% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch.
While some public elementary schools are moving up the ranks, others are consistently top-rated overall, including:
- Rutledge Elementary School, with an overall rating of A+.
- Laura Welch Bush Elementary School, with an A+ rating overall.
- River Ridge Elementary School, rated A+ overall.
This story was created automatically using data from Niche.com, then reviewed by an editor before publication. Click here for more about how and why Hoodline is automating local news. Got thoughts about what we're doing? Go here to share your feedback.
