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Excellent

#49 of 8,547 schools in TX

Top 1% in state

Garden City EL

Elementary School · GLASSCOCK COUNTY ISD

P O BOX 9, Garden City, TX 79739

Enrollment

130

Student-Teacher

8.1:1

Score

9.3

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Garden City

#1 of 2

public schools

Texas elementary schools

#36 of 4,678

In district

#1 of 2

GLASSCOCK COUNTY ISD

School environment

10.0 / 10

Exceptional

About Garden City EL

Garden City Elementary is a small public school in Garden City, Texas, serving students from Pre-K through grade 5. With just 130 students and a student-teacher ratio of 8.1 to 1, every child gets consistent adult attention — a structural advantage that shows clearly in the outcomes. Those outcomes are exceptional.

Garden City El earns a composite score of 9.3 out of 10, with academic performance at 8.8 and a growth score of 9.4 — signaling a faculty that actively moves students forward rather than coasting on incoming ability. The school ranks 36th among 4,678 elementary schools in Texas, placing it in the top 1 percent of all 8,547 public schools statewide. That is a position very few schools anywhere in the state can claim, and the data is consistent across both achievement and year-over-year improvement measures.

Garden City El holds the top spot among the two public schools serving the community, and the statewide rankings make that standing concrete rather than local reputation. For families considering a smaller Texas school, this one offers something difficult to argue with: independently ranked evidence that tight class sizes and strong instruction can produce results at the very highest level.

What's said publicly about Garden City EL

Sources: School's website

Synthesized from public, attributable sources. Updated May 2026.

Garden City Elementary School received the 2024-2025 'A' Accountability Rating 1 . The school was recognized as a 2022 National Blue Ribbon School 1 . The district reports a 95% passing rate for the 2023 STAAR/EOC assessments 1 . Students have access to a 1-to-1 student-device ratio 1 . The school offers various extracurricular and academic opportunities, including athletics, academic UIL/TMSCA, and FFA groups 1 .
Sources (1)
  1. www.gckats.net
Generated by AI from public sources. Every claim is grounded in a cited source. Report inaccuracy

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 130 students, Garden City EL 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.

With a student-teacher ratio of 8.1:1, Garden City EL offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.

Located in a rural area, Garden City EL 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 · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress9.4Exceptional50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data2
Annual Change+1.25 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2021
TrendImproving
Academics8.8Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency72%
Reading/ELA Proficiency67%
Overall Proficiency70%
Expected (poverty-adj.)67%
vs. Expected+2.6 pts
Adjusted Percentile82th
College ReadinessNot Available

Data not available for this school

Resources & Environment10.0Exceptional20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio8.1:1
Per-Pupil Spending$25,273

Garden City EL — Students at Garden City EL score 70% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 67%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

4.6%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores TX EDFACTS (2020-21)

Math Proficiency 72.0%
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 64.5%
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
72%
ELA
62%
2021*
Math
72%
ELA
67%

* 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: 9.4/10.

How Garden City EL Compares

See how Garden City EL performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
9.3/10
99th percentile in TX
Academic
8.8/10
8.8/10
Growth
9.4/10
Above average
Environment
10.0/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
5%
Teaching Staff
8:1 student-teacher ratio
16 teachers

Location

P O BOX 9, Garden City, TX 79739

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Garden City EL may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. STANTON EL (rated 8.9/10, 25.7 miles away, in nearby Stanton), with a comparable rating. Another option is WASHINGTON EL (rated 8.3/10, 26.4 miles away, in nearby Big Spring), with a comparable rating. Additionally, GOLIAD EL (rated 7.4/10, 25.7 miles away, in nearby Big Spring), a more accessible option. For more schools in Garden City, see our Garden City schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 26.6 mi
School Distance Rating
GARDEN CITY H S Garden City 0.0 mi 7.7
FORSAN EL Forsan 18.1 mi 5.2
FORSAN H S Forsan 18.3 mi 7.4
MARCY EL Big Spring 24.1 mi 5.1
KENTWOOD EL Big Spring 25.3 mi 6.1
NAZARENE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY BIG SPRING Big Spring 25.5 mi
BIG SPRING INT Big Spring 25.6 mi 7.8
GOLIAD EL Big Spring 25.7 mi 7.4
RUNNELS ACADEMY Big Spring 26.2 mi 6.3
BIG SPRING H S Big Spring 26.3 mi 6.0
WASHINGTON EL Big Spring 26.4 mi 8.3
BIG SPRING J H Big Spring 26.6 mi 7.8
MOSS EL Big Spring 27.1 mi 5.0
STANTON EL Stanton 25.7 mi 8.9
STANTON MIDDLE Stanton 25.7 mi 8.2
STANTON H S Stanton 26.2 mi 7.3
GREENWOOD INT Midland 26.3 mi 5.8
JAMES R BROOKS MIDDLE Midland 26.3 mi 7.8
GREENWOOD H S Midland 26.4 mi 6.7
GREENWOOD EL Midland 26.6 mi 6.5

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 79739 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$118,906

Median Home Value

$237,800

Population

862

College Educated

43.8%

Homeownership

60.9%

Poverty Rate

7.7%

Median Age

36.5

Community Profile

The community surrounding Garden City EL has a median household income of $118,906. It is a well-educated community where 44% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $237,800. The local poverty rate of 7.7% 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
HERITAGE ACADEMY OF WINDCREST Windcrest, TX 9.3
SAVOY EL Savoy, TX 9.3
VEGA EL Vega, TX 9.3
DEW SCHOOL Teague, TX 9.4
GOLDEN RULE Dallas, TX 9.4
SCHOOL FOR THE HIGHLY GIFTED Grand Prairie, TX 9.4

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Garden City EL

What grades does Garden City EL serve?

Garden City EL serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Garden City EL?

Garden City EL has an enrollment of approximately 130 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Garden City EL?

The student-teacher ratio at Garden City EL is 8.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Garden City EL rank in TX?

Garden City EL is ranked #49 out of 8,547 schools in TX.

What is Garden City EL's MySchoolScout rating?

Garden City EL has a composite rating of 9.3 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 Garden City EL?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Garden City EL has 72.0% math proficiency and 64.5% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Garden City EL a charter school?

No, Garden City EL is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Garden City EL a Title I school?

No, Garden City EL is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Garden City EL?

4.6% of students at Garden City EL 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
11 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
25 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR. County-level only.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
130
Student-Teacher Ratio
8.1:1
Teachers (FTE)
16
Free/Reduced Lunch
4.6%
Type
regular
Setting
Remote Rural
County
Glasscock County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

GLASSCOCK COUNTY ISD
District Enrollment
292
Schools in District
2
Per-Pupil Spending
$49,156
District Rank
#1 of 2

Other Schools in This District

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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