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Very Good

#1309 of 8,547 schools in TX

Top 15% in state

Plains EL

Elementary School · PLAINS ISD

P O BOX 479, Plains, TX 79355

Enrollment

193

Student-Teacher

9.7:1

Score

7.9

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Plains

#1 of 3

public schools

Texas elementary schools

#701 of 4,678

In district

#1 of 3

PLAINS ISD

School environment

9.9 / 10

Exceptional

About Plains EL

Plains Elementary serves 193 students in prekindergarten through fifth grade in the small community of Plains, Texas. This regular public school maintains an impressive 9.7:1 student-teacher ratio with 20 full-time equivalent teachers, providing personalized attention that helps explain its strong performance. The school has earned a solid 7.3 out of 10 rating from MySchoolScout and ranks #1179 out of 8598 Texas elementary schools, placing it in the 86th percentile statewide.

This ranking reflects the school's commitment to educational excellence in a close-knit learning environment where teachers can focus on individual student needs. Plains Elementary serves a stable community in Yoakum County where the median household income reaches $79,340 and the poverty rate remains relatively low at 9.8%. The surrounding ZIP code has a population of 1,573 residents, with median home values around $124,200, indicating an affordable cost of living.

While 15% of local adults hold bachelor's degrees or higher, the community clearly values education as demonstrated by the school's strong performance metrics. Located in remote rural Texas, Plains Elementary offers students the benefits of small-town education with exceptional individual attention, situated in a community that supports academic achievement despite its geographic isolation.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 193 students, Plains 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.

While current test scores at Plains EL are below average, the school shows strong growth metrics — meaning students are making above-average progress year over year. This upward trajectory can be a positive indicator for families who value a school's ability to help students improve, even if absolute scores haven't caught up yet.

With a student-teacher ratio of 9.7:1, Plains 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.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress9.6Exceptional50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data2
Annual Change+2.5 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2021
TrendImproving
Academics3.7Fair30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency22%
Reading/ELA Proficiency27%
Overall Proficiency25%
Expected (poverty-adj.)38%
vs. Expected-13.1 pts
Adjusted Percentile18th
College ReadinessNot Available

Data not available for this school

Resources & Environment9.9Exceptional20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio9.7:1
Per-Pupil Spending$17,056

Plains EL — Students at Plains EL score 24% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 38%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

64.8%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores TX EDFACTS (2020-21)

Math Proficiency 22.0%
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 22.0%
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
22%
ELA
17%
2021*
Math
22%
ELA
27%

* 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 Plains EL Compares

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

Overall Score
7.9/10
85th percentile in TX
Academic
3.7/10
3.7/10
Growth
9.6/10
Above average
Environment
9.9/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
65%
Teaching Staff
10:1 student-teacher ratio
20 teachers

Location

P O BOX 479, Plains, TX 79355

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Plains EL may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. SUNDOWN EL (rated 9.1/10, 27.1 miles away, in nearby Sundown), which scores notably higher. Another option is TATUM ELEMENTARY (rated 8.2/10, 28.9 miles away, in nearby Tatum), with a very similar rating. Additionally, KELLEY EL (rated 7.8/10, 15.1 miles away, in nearby Denver City), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Plains, see our Plains schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 29.0 mi
School Distance Rating
PLAINS H S Plains 0.0 mi 7.2
PLAINS MIDDLE Plains 0.0 mi 7.8
DENVER CITY H S Denver City 15.0 mi 5.9
KELLEY EL Denver City 15.1 mi 7.8
DODSON PRI Denver City 15.1 mi 7.0
WILLIAM G GRAVITT J H Denver City 15.2 mi 6.1
SEAGRAVES SCHOOLS Seagraves 22.1 mi 5.5
WELLMAN-UNION SCHOOL Wellman 25.1 mi 8.4
SUNDOWN EL Sundown 27.1 mi 9.1
SUNDOWN H S Sundown 27.1 mi 5.6
SUNDOWN J H Sundown 27.1 mi 8.7
RACE (ROUGHNECK ALTERNATIVE CENTER FOR EDUCATION) Sundown 27.1 mi
WHITEFACE SCHOOL Whiteface 30.9 mi 5.9
SEMINOLE J H Seminole 33.1 mi 8.7
SEMINOLE H S Seminole 33.4 mi 6.2
LOOP SCHOOL Loop 30.5 mi 7.9
YOUNG EL Seminole 33.7 mi 7.8
TATUM ELEMENTARY Tatum 28.9 mi 8.2
TATUM HIGH Tatum 29.0 mi 6.0
TATUM JR HIGH Tatum 29.0 mi 5.6

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 79355 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$74,172

Median Home Value

$118,400

Median Rent

$868/mo

Population

1,642

College Educated

14.3%

Homeownership

67.3%

Poverty Rate

22.2%

Median Age

25.6

Community Profile

The community surrounding Plains EL has a median household income of $74,172. It is a community where 14% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $118,400, with a median rent of $868/month. The area has a poverty rate of 22.2%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
AARON PARKER EL Paris, TX 7.9
DENTON CLASSICAL ACADEMY Lewisville, TX 7.9
FROST EL Frost, TX 7.9
GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER EL Karnack, TX 7.9
ILM ACADEMY Houston, TX 7.9
NORTH TEXAS COLLEGIATE ACADEMY-NORTH CAMPUS Denton, TX 7.9

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Plains EL

What grades does Plains EL serve?

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

How many students attend Plains EL?

Plains EL has an enrollment of approximately 193 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Plains EL?

The student-teacher ratio at Plains EL is 9.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Plains EL rank in TX?

Plains EL is ranked #1309 out of 8,547 schools in TX.

What is Plains EL's MySchoolScout rating?

Plains EL has a composite rating of 7.9 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 Plains EL?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Plains EL has 22.0% math proficiency and 22.0% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Plains EL a charter school?

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

Is Plains EL a Title I school?

No, Plains EL is not currently a Title I school.

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

64.8% of students at Plains 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
30 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
35 Somewhat Bikeable
County Safety
Average (672/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

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

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
193
Student-Teacher Ratio
9.7:1
Teachers (FTE)
20
Free/Reduced Lunch
64.8%
Type
regular
Setting
Remote Rural
County
Yoakum County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

PLAINS ISD
District Enrollment
421
Schools in District
3
Per-Pupil Spending
$17,677
District Rank
#1 of 3

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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