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Very Good

#1546 of 8,547 schools in TX

Top 18% in state

Dawson School

School · DAWSON ISD

P O BOX 180, Welch, TX 79377

Enrollment

132

Student-Teacher

10.2:1

Score

7.7

Grades

Pre-K – 12th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

Texas schools

#92 of 477

Academic growth

9.6 / 10

Exceptional

About Dawson School

Dawson School serves 132 students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade in the small community of Welch, Texas. This regular public school operates with 13 full-time equivalent teachers, creating an intimate learning environment with a student-teacher ratio of 10.2:1 that allows for personalized attention and strong relationships between educators and students. The school has earned recognition for its performance, receiving a MySchoolScout rating of 7.3 out of 10 and ranking #442 out of 8,598 schools statewide, placing it in the 95th percentile among Texas schools.

This impressive ranking reflects the dedication of the school community in providing quality education despite the challenges that can come with serving a small, rural population. Dawson School operates in Dawson County, where the median household income is $36,932 and the median home value is $85,000. The surrounding ZIP code has a population of just 322 residents, with 8% holding bachelor's degrees or higher, and a poverty rate of 23.6%.

The school serves as an important anchor institution in this tight-knit rural community. Located in a remote rural area of Texas, Dawson School embodies the spirit of small-town education where every student is known and valued within the broader community fabric.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 132 students, Dawson School is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.

Located in a rural area, Dawson School may involve longer commutes for some families. Rural schools often serve as community anchors and may have smaller class sizes, but parents should consider transportation logistics, after-school program availability, and access to specialized services.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress9.6Exceptional25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data2
Annual Change+2.5 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2021
TrendImproving
Academics5.8Average25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency27%
Reading/ELA Proficiency32%
Overall Proficiency30%
Expected (poverty-adj.)31%
vs. Expected-1.6 pts
Adjusted Percentile40th
College Readiness6.6Above Average30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment9.5Exceptional20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio10.2:1
Per-Pupil Spending$13,490

Dawson School — Students at Dawson School score 30% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 31%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

78%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores TX EDFACTS (2020-21)

Math Proficiency 22.0%
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 32.0%
School
State
N/A

Based on 4 test records from TX state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↑ Improving

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2019
Math
17%
ELA
32%
2021*
Math
27%
ELA
32%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 9.6/10.

How Dawson School Compares

See how Dawson School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.7/10
82th percentile in TX
Academic
5.8/10
5.8/10
Growth
9.6/10
Above average
Environment
9.5/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
78%
Teaching Staff
10:1 student-teacher ratio
13 teachers

Location

P O BOX 180, Welch, TX 79377

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Dawson School may also want to explore other schools in the area. KLONDIKE ISD (rated 8.6/10, 27.0 miles away, in nearby Lamesa), which scores slightly higher. Another option is WELLMAN-UNION SCHOOL (rated 8.4/10, 19.1 miles away, in nearby Wellman), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, O'DONNELL SCHOOL (rated 8.3/10, 17.5 miles away, in nearby O'Donnell), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Welch, see our Welch schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 44.3 mi
School Distance Rating
LAMESA SCHOOLS Lamesa 16.1 mi 5.1
COLONIAL HEIGHTS EL Brownfield 18.5 mi 6.1
BROWNFIELD EDUCATION CENTER Brownfield 18.8 mi
BROWNFIELD MIDDLE Brownfield 18.8 mi 7.3
BROWNFIELD H S Brownfield 19.2 mi 8.2
LOOP SCHOOL Loop 16.9 mi 7.9
OAK GROVE EL Brownfield 19.6 mi 7.3
O'DONNELL SCHOOL O'Donnell 17.5 mi 8.3
WELLMAN-UNION SCHOOL Wellman 19.1 mi 8.4
TAHOKA H S Tahoka 24.8 mi 7.3
TAHOKA MIDDLE Tahoka 24.8 mi 7.6
TAHOKA EL Tahoka 24.8 mi 9.1
KLONDIKE ISD Lamesa 27.0 mi 8.6
MEADOW SCHOOL Meadow 28.6 mi 6.0
SEAGRAVES SCHOOLS Seagraves 25.8 mi 5.5
NEW HOME SCHOOL New Home 30.2 mi 7.8
ROPES SCHOOL Ropesville 33.3 mi 6.9
WILSON SCHOOL Wilson 35.4 mi 8.1
SANDS CISD Ackerly 36.9 mi 8.0
SLATON J H Slaton 44.3 mi 5.6

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 79377 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$55,833

Median Home Value

$128,800

Population

294

College Educated

16%

Homeownership

56.8%

Poverty Rate

6.5%

Median Age

26.2

Community Profile

The community surrounding Dawson School has a median household income of $55,833. It is a community where 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $128,800. The local poverty rate of 6.5% is relatively low. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
EAGLE HEIGHTS CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Pearland, TX 7.7
JAYTON SCHOOLS Jayton, TX 7.7
LIVING ROCK ACADEMY Bulverde, TX 7.7
MEMORIAL CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Killeen, TX 7.7
WALNUT SPRINGS SCHOOL Walnut Springs, TX 7.7
ADRIAN SCHOOL Adrian, TX 7.8

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Dawson School

What grades does Dawson School serve?

Dawson School serves students in grades Pre-K through 12th.

How many students attend Dawson School?

Dawson School has an enrollment of approximately 132 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Dawson School?

The student-teacher ratio at Dawson School is 10.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Dawson School rank in TX?

Dawson School is ranked #1546 out of 8,547 schools in TX.

What is Dawson School's MySchoolScout rating?

Dawson School has a composite rating of 7.7 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Dawson School?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Dawson School has 22.0% math proficiency and 32.0% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Dawson School a charter school?

No, Dawson School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Dawson School a Title I school?

No, Dawson School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Dawson School?

78.0% of students at Dawson School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
9 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
27 Somewhat Bikeable
County Safety
Average (276/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. County-level only. Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 12th
Enrollment
132
Student-Teacher Ratio
10.2:1
Teachers (FTE)
13
Free/Reduced Lunch
78.0%
Type
regular
Setting
Remote Rural
County
Dawson County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

DAWSON ISD
District Enrollment
132
Schools in District
1
Per-Pupil Spending
$17,547
District Rank
#1 of 1

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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