MARTHA & JOSH MORRISS MATH & ENGINEERING EL vs PLEASANT GROVE INT

Both schools sitting 1.5 miles apart in Texarkana represent the upper tier of Texas elementary education, but Martha & Josh Morriss Math & Engineering El edges out Pleasant Grove Int in overall rating by 0.2 points — 9.5/10 versus 9.3/10 — and the state rank gap is more telling: Morriss holds the #42 spot out of 8,547 Texas schools, while Pleasant Grove Int ranks #96 out of 8,547. That's still a top-1.2% finish for Pleasant Grove, but Morriss sits more than 50 positions higher statewide.

Academically, Morriss earns a perfect 10.0/10 against Pleasant Grove Int's already-strong 9.8/10. The growth score difference is narrower — Morriss at 9.6/10 versus Pleasant Grove Int at 9.5/10 — suggesting both schools accelerate student learning at an exceptional pace. The consistent edge Morriss holds across both dimensions reflects the school's focused math and engineering identity, which likely drives instructional rigor school-wide rather than only in elective tracks.

On demographics and classroom dynamics, the two schools diverge more sharply. Pleasant Grove Int enrolls 483 students across grades 3–5, compared to Morriss's 360 students spanning KG–5, meaning Morriss handles a broader grade band in a smaller building. The student-teacher ratio at Pleasant Grove Int is 13.8:1 versus 15.7:1 at Morriss — roughly two fewer students per teacher at Pleasant Grove, which can matter for families who prioritize individual attention. Free and reduced lunch eligibility runs 42% at Pleasant Grove Int against 29% at Morriss, indicating Pleasant Grove serves a higher proportion of economically disadvantaged students.

The grade-span distinction is practically significant for families with younger children: Morriss begins at kindergarten, while Pleasant Grove Int serves only grades 3 through 5. A family with a kindergartner entering the Texarkana system cannot attend Pleasant Grove Int at all — Morriss is the only option of the two for the primary grades. Families already in the Pleasant Grove feeder pattern will encounter the school naturally at third grade; those choosing Morriss can establish their child there from the start of elementary and maintain continuity through fifth grade.