Needs Improvement
#8272 of 8,552 schools in TX
Purcell EL
Elementary School · Abilene ISD · Abilene, TX
An Abilene ISD elementary school where students score 6 points below what's typical for similar communities.
3633 N 14TH ST, Abilene, TX 79603
- Math 27% vs TX 44% (2024)
- Reading 38% vs TX 54% (2024)
- 16.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Purcell EL score 32% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 39%).
2024 STAAR proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. TX average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 16-year record (2009–2024), then recovered 7 points since 2020, reaching 33% in 2024.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 57% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 57% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 30 test records from TX state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
84%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where Purcell EL sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 36Car-Dependent
- Bike 37Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High2,193/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Abilene), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$53,579
Median home value
$114,000
Median rent
$1,022/mo
College educated
17.1%
Homeownership
57.5%
Poverty rate
20.6%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 79603; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stafford ELEnrollment path unverified | 5.4 | PK–5 | 0.7 mi | 458 | Compare → |
| Martinez ELEnrollment path unverified | 5.0 | PK–5 | 1.4 mi | 391 | Compare → |
| Ortiz ELEnrollment path unverified | 2.9 | PK–5 | 1.4 mi | 447 | Compare → |
| Texas Leadership of AbileneCharter · enrollment unverified | 3.8 | K–12 | 1.5 mi | 870 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.
Abilene ISD
- Schools in district
- 28
- Rank in district
- #23 of 24
- District spending per student
- $11,604NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 22.9%Census SAIPE · 2024
Purcell EL is listed in ABILENE ISD; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Purcell EL
Purcell EL is a public elementary school in Abilene, TX, part of Abilene ISD, serving approximately 594 students in grades Kindergarten-5th with a 16.5:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 3.0 out of 10 and ranks #8,272 of 8,552 schools in TX. State assessment records show 57% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 57% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Purcell EL
What grades does Purcell EL serve?
Purcell EL serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Purcell EL?
Purcell EL has an enrollment of approximately 594 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Purcell EL?
The student-teacher ratio at Purcell EL is 16.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Purcell EL rank in TX?
Purcell EL ranks #8,272 of 8,552 schools in TX.
What is Purcell EL's MySchoolScout rating?
Purcell EL has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.0 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 Purcell EL?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Purcell EL has 57% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 57% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Purcell EL a charter school?
No, Purcell EL is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Purcell EL a Title I school?
No, Purcell EL is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Purcell EL?
84.0% of students at Purcell 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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 594
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 16.5:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 36
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Taylor County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 26.9%
- Phone
- (325) 671-4845
- Area population (ZIP 79603)
- 23,876
- Area average commute
- 14.8 min
- Area median age
- 35
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2024 STAAR · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2024 STAAR. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2024 STAAR · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2024 STAAR. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 79603; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2024; directory SY 2023–24
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