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Very Good

#2066 of 8,552 schools in TX

Top 24% in state

Penelope School

School · PENELOPE ISD

P O BOX 68, Penelope, TX 76676

Enrollment

212

Student-Teacher

11.2:1

Score

7.7

Grades

Pre-K – 12th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Texas schools

#2,066 of 8,552

School environment

9.6 / 10

Excellent

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Penelope School

7.7/10

School in Penelope · grades Pre-K – 12th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Malone EL

5.1/10

4.6 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Mount Calm ISD

7.5/10

7.5 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Penelope School

Penelope School is a public school in Penelope, TX, part of PENELOPE ISD. Penelope School serves approximately 212 students, and covers grades Pre-K-12th, and has a 11.2:1 student-teacher ratio. Penelope School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.7 out of 10 and ranks #2,066 of 8,552 schools in TX.

Structured state assessment records for Penelope School show 57% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 58% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

How it compares1.4 pts above TX schools
  • This school 7.7 · Very Good
  • TX avg 6.3

What Parents Should Know

Test scores at Penelope School sit below average, but its growth scores are strong: students here make above-average progress year over year. The raw numbers haven't caught up, but a school that keeps moving kids forward is doing the harder, more important work.

Penelope School sits in a rural area, which can mean longer drives for some families. Rural schools are often community anchors with smaller classes, but check transportation, after-school options, and access to specialized services before you commit.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress8.3Excellent25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-2.7 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendDeclining
Academics3.9Needs Improvement25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency27% (2024 STAAR)
Reading/ELA Proficiency45% (2024 STAAR)
Math vs. State Avg-16.6 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-9.3 pts
Overall Proficiency36% (2024 STAAR, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)53% (model expectation from 2024 STAAR)
vs. Expected-16.9 pts
Adjusted Percentile19th
College Readiness9.0Excellent30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate80%+
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment9.6Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio11.2:1
Per-Pupil Spending$14,332
Chronic Absenteeism11.8%

Penelope School — Students at Penelope School score 36% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 53%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

49.1%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores TX STAAR (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 57.4% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
School
State
43.6% (2024 STAAR)
ELA Proficiency 58.2% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
School
State
54.3% (2024 STAAR)

Based on 30 test records from TX state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

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

2009
Math
57%
ELA
77%
2010
Math
67%
ELA
82%
2011
Math
72%
ELA
82%
2012
Math
67%
ELA
67%
2013
Math
72%
ELA
67%
2014
Math
72%
ELA
72%
2015
Math
82%
ELA
67%
2016
Math
82%
ELA
62%
2017
Math
42%
ELA
37%
2018
Math
52%
ELA
37%
2019
Math
52%
ELA
37%
2020*
Math
37%
ELA
37%
2021*
Math
37%
ELA
37%
2022
Math
43.6%
ELA
67.2%
2024
Math
27%
ELA
45%

* 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: 8.3/10.

How Penelope School Compares

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

Overall Score
7.7/10
76th percentile in TX
Academic
3.9/10
Needs Improvement
Growth
8.3/10
Excellent
Environment
9.6/10
Excellent
Sports
12
6 boys' · 6 girls'
Advanced STEM
5/5
Subjects offered
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
49%
Teaching Staff
11:1 student-teacher ratio
19 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
11.8%

Programs & Offerings

Athletics12sports offered
6 boys'·6 girls'·18 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC 2021-22
Advanced STEM Courses5 of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC 2021-22
Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

P O BOX 68, Penelope, TX 76676

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Penelope School may also want to explore other schools in the area. ABBOTT SCHOOL (rated 8.6/10, 8.7 miles away, in nearby Abbott), which scores slightly higher. Another option is BYNUM SCHOOL (rated 8.3/10, 8.4 miles away, in nearby Bynum), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, DAWSON PK-12 (rated 7.6/10, 13.1 miles away, in nearby Dawson), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Penelope, see our Penelope schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 15.4 mi
School Distance Rating
MALONE EL Malone 4.6 mi 5.1
MOUNT CALM ISD Mount Calm 7.5 mi 7.5
HUBBARD EL Hubbard 7.2 mi 3.6
HUBBARD H S Hubbard 7.2 mi 6.1
BYNUM SCHOOL Bynum 8.4 mi 8.3
ABBOTT SCHOOL Abbott 8.7 mi 8.6
WEST EL West 9.7 mi 8.5
WEST H S West 9.8 mi 7.4
WEST MIDDLE West 9.8 mi 8.7
ST MARYS SCHOOL West 10.7 mi 6.5
AXTELL H S Axtell 14.2 mi 6.6
AXTELL MIDDLE SCHOOL Axtell 14.2 mi 6.9
AXTELL EL Axtell 14.8 mi 8.2
DAWSON PK-12 Dawson 13.1 mi 7.6
HILLSBORO INT Hillsboro 14.2 mi 7.9
HILLSBORO EL Hillsboro 14.2 mi 9.2
HILLSBORO H S Hillsboro 14.3 mi 6.5
HILLSBORO J H Hillsboro 15.4 mi 8.7
FIRST BAPTIST CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Hillsboro 15.4 mi
FIRST BAPTIST CHRISTIAN S HILLSBORO Hillsboro 15.4 mi

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 76676 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$75,500

Median Home Value

$133,300

Median Rent

$900/mo

Population

353

College Educated

26.9%

Homeownership

95.5%

Poverty Rate

4.8%

Median Age

35.8

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
GORDON SCHOOL Gordon, TX 7.7
HUMBLE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Humble, TX 7.7
LANEVILLE SCHOOL Laneville, TX 7.7
LIVING ROCK ACADEMY Bulverde, TX 7.7
MEMORIAL CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Killeen, TX 7.7
RADFORD SCHOOL El Paso, TX 7.7

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Penelope School

What grades does Penelope School serve?

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

How many students attend Penelope School?

Penelope School has an enrollment of approximately 212 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Penelope School?

The student-teacher ratio at Penelope School is 11.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Penelope School rank in TX?

Penelope School ranks #2,066 of 8,552 schools in TX.

What is Penelope School's MySchoolScout rating?

Penelope School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.7 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Penelope School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Penelope School has 57% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 58% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Is Penelope School a charter school?

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

Is Penelope School a Title I school?

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

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

49.1% of students at Penelope 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
3 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
25 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 12th
Enrollment
212
Student-Teacher Ratio
11.2:1
Teachers (FTE)
19
Free/Reduced Lunch
49.1%
Type
regular
Setting
Distant Rural
County
Hill County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
11.8%
4-Year Graduation
80%+

District

PENELOPE ISD
District Enrollment
212
Schools in District
1
Per-Pupil Spending
$14,332
District Rank
#1 of 1

How we rate schools

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