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Very Good

#2751 of 8,547 schools in TX

Top 32% in state

Penelope School

School · PENELOPE ISD

P O BOX 68, Penelope, TX 76676

Enrollment

212

Student-Teacher

11.2:1

Score

7.1

Grades

Pre-K – 12th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

Texas schools

#158 of 477

School environment

9.5 / 10

Exceptional

About Penelope School

Penelope School serves 212 students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade in the small rural community of Penelope, Texas. This regular public school maintains an intimate learning environment with a student-teacher ratio of 11.2:1, supported by 19 full-time equivalent teachers who can provide personalized attention to each student. The school has earned recognition for its strong performance, receiving a 7.3 out of 10 rating from MySchoolScout and ranking #1155 out of 8598 schools statewide, placing it in the impressive 87th percentile among Texas schools.

This achievement reflects the school's commitment to educational excellence in a close-knit setting where teachers and students develop meaningful relationships. Penelope School operates in Hill County's rural landscape, where the zip code population of just 317 residents creates a true small-town atmosphere. The community demonstrates economic stability with a median household income of $63,125 and median home values around $155,000.

With 30% of residents holding bachelor's degrees or higher and a low poverty rate of 4.4%, the area provides a supportive foundation for student success. The school serves as an educational cornerstone in this tight-knit rural Texas community, where students benefit from both academic achievement and the personal connections that define small-town schooling.

What Parents Should Know

Located in a rural area, Penelope 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 Progress7.2Very Good25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data2
Annual Change-3.75 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2021
TrendDeclining
Academics5.8Average25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency37%
Reading/ELA Proficiency37%
Overall Proficiency37%
Expected (poverty-adj.)45%
vs. Expected-8.2 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 Ratio11.2:1
Per-Pupil Spending$13,653

Penelope School — Students at Penelope School score 37% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 45%).

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 EDFACTS (2020-21)

Math Proficiency 44.5%
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 37.0%
School
State
N/A

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

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

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

2019
Math
52%
ELA
37%
2021*
Math
37%
ELA
37%

* 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: 7.2/10.

How Penelope School Compares

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

Overall Score
7.1/10
68th percentile in TX
Academic
5.8/10
5.8/10
Growth
7.2/10
Above average
Environment
9.5/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
49%
Teaching Staff
11:1 student-teacher ratio
19 teachers

Location

P O BOX 68, Penelope, TX 76676

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Penelope School may also want to explore other schools in the area. BYNUM SCHOOL (rated 8.6/10, 8.4 miles away, in nearby Bynum), which scores notably higher. Another option is ABBOTT SCHOOL (rated 7.8/10, 8.7 miles away, in nearby Abbott), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, MOUNT CALM ISD (rated 7.1/10, 7.5 miles away, in nearby Mount Calm), 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 7.3
MOUNT CALM ISD Mount Calm 7.5 mi 7.1
HUBBARD EL Hubbard 7.2 mi 7.6
HUBBARD H S Hubbard 7.2 mi 6.2
BYNUM SCHOOL Bynum 8.4 mi 8.6
ABBOTT SCHOOL Abbott 8.7 mi 7.8
WEST EL West 9.7 mi 9.0
WEST H S West 9.8 mi 7.0
WEST MIDDLE West 9.8 mi 8.5
ST MARYS SCHOOL West 10.7 mi 6.5
AXTELL H S Axtell 14.2 mi 5.9
AXTELL MIDDLE SCHOOL Axtell 14.2 mi 8.0
AXTELL EL Axtell 14.8 mi 7.0
DAWSON PK-12 Dawson 13.1 mi 6.3
HILLSBORO INT Hillsboro 14.2 mi 8.1
HILLSBORO EL Hillsboro 14.2 mi 6.4
HILLSBORO H S Hillsboro 14.3 mi 7.1
HILLSBORO J H Hillsboro 15.4 mi 9.0
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

Community Profile

The community surrounding Penelope School has a median household income of $75,500. It is an area where 27% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $133,300, with a median rent of $900/month. The local poverty rate of 4.8% 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
GOLD BURG SCHOOL Bowie, TX 7.1
HERMLEIGH SCHOOL Hermleigh, TX 7.1
MOUNT CALM ISD Mount Calm, TX 7.1
OLFEN SCHOOL Rowena, TX 7.1
TRENT INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT Trent, TX 7.1
ZEPHYR SCHOOL Zephyr, TX 7.1

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 is ranked #2751 out of 8,547 schools in TX.

What is Penelope School's MySchoolScout rating?

Penelope School has a composite rating of 7.1 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 Penelope School?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Penelope School has 44.5% math proficiency and 37.0% reading/ELA proficiency.

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

County Safety
Average (535/100K)

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

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
Data Year
2023–2024

District

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