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
Enrollment
193
Student-Teacher
9.7:1
Score
7.9
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Updated
2022-23
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 metricsView breakdown
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Data not available for this school
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Plains EL — Students at Plains EL score 24% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 38%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
64.8%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores TX EDFACTS (2020-21)
Based on 4 test records from TX state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
↑ ImprovingAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* 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.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has remained stable from 22% (2019) to 22% (2021). Reading/ELA proficiency has improved from 17% (2019) to 27% (2021).
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.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
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
- Phone
- (806) 456-7401
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
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.
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