Skip to main content

Average

#5663 of 8,552 schools in TX

Sour Lake EL

Elementary School · HARDIN-JEFFERSON ISD

P O BOX 340, Sour Lake, TX 77659

Enrollment

760

Student-Teacher

15.2:1

Score

5.5

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Texas schools

#5,663 of 8,552

In Sour Lake

#3 of 3

public schools

In district

#3 of 4

HARDIN-JEFFERSON ISD

School shortlistprofile + nearby

Shortlisting around Sour Lake EL?

Use this profile as one decision point, then compare nearby options, source confidence, and commute fit before picking a neighborhood around it.

Shortlist starter

Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.

Sour Lake EL

5.5/10

Elementary School in Sour Lake · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Hardin-jefferson J H

7.2/10

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

Hardin-jefferson H S

7.8/10

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

About Sour Lake EL

Sour Lake EL is a public elementary school in Sour Lake, TX, part of HARDIN-JEFFERSON ISD. Sour Lake EL serves approximately 760 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio. Sour Lake EL has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.5 out of 10 and ranks #5,663 of 8,552 schools in TX.

Structured state assessment records for Sour Lake EL show 69% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 71% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

How it compares0.3 pts above district
  • This school 5.5 · Average
  • District avg 5.2
  • TX avg 6.2

What Parents Should Know

Sour Lake EL 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 · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress5.3Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-3.97 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendDeclining
Academics6.0Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency46% (2024 STAAR)
Reading/ELA Proficiency50% (2024 STAAR)
Math vs. State Avg+2.4 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-4.3 pts
Overall Proficiency48% (2024 STAAR, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)56% (model expectation from 2024 STAAR)
vs. Expected-8.4 pts
Adjusted Percentile43th
Resources & Environment5.3Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio15.2:1
Per-Pupil Spending$10,301
Chronic Absenteeism14.9%

Sour Lake EL — Students at Sour Lake EL score 48% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 56%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

40.5%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores TX STAAR (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 69.2% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
School
State
43.6% (2024 STAAR)
ELA Proficiency 70.6% (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
91%
ELA
93%
2010
Math
91%
ELA
90%
2011
Math
94%
ELA
91%
2012
Math
85%
ELA
90%
2013
Math
83%
ELA
87%
2014
Math
85%
ELA
86%
2015
Math
84%
ELA
92%
2016
Math
88%
ELA
82%
2017
Math
56%
ELA
49%
2018
Math
58%
ELA
53%
2019
Math
58%
ELA
53%
2020*
Math
43%
ELA
43%
2021*
Math
43%
ELA
43%
2022
Math
32.3%
ELA
57%
2024
Math
46%
ELA
50%

* 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: 5.3/10.

How Sour Lake EL Compares

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

Overall Score
5.5/10
34th percentile in TX
Academic
6.0/10
Average
Growth
5.3/10
Average
Environment
5.3/10
Average
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
41%
Teaching Staff
15:1 student-teacher ratio
50 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
14.9%

Programs & Offerings

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 340, Sour Lake, TX 77659

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Sour Lake EL may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. DEVERS EL (rated 8.7/10, 13.4 miles away, in nearby Devers), which scores notably higher. Another option is BOB HOPE SCHOOL BEAUMONT (rated 6.8/10, 13.8 miles away, in nearby Port Arthur), which scores notably higher. Additionally, WEST HARDIN EL (rated 6.4/10, 12.9 miles away, in nearby Saratoga), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Sour Lake, see our Sour Lake schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 14.0 mi
School Distance Rating
HARDIN-JEFFERSON J H Sour Lake 1.8 mi 7.2
HARDIN-JEFFERSON H S Sour Lake 1.9 mi 7.8
NEW AE China 6.6 mi
CHINA EL China 7.1 mi 4.8
WEST HARDIN EL Saratoga 12.9 mi 6.4
WEST HARDIN H S Saratoga 12.9 mi 8.2
WEST BROOK SR H S Beaumont 12.8 mi 3.9
DEVERS EL Devers 13.4 mi 8.7
DEVERS JH Devers 13.4 mi 9.5
IGNITE COMMUNITY SCHOOL - BEAUMONT Lewisville 13.3 mi 1.9
GUESS EL Beaumont 13.2 mi 3.1
AMELIA EL Beaumont 13.4 mi 2.5
LUMBERTON MIDDLE Lumberton 13.9 mi 5.7
LUMBERTON H S Lumberton 14.0 mi 6.8
HARDIN CO ALTER ED Lumberton 14.0 mi
THE ANCHOR EARLY LEARNING CENTER Beaumont 13.3 mi
VINCENT MIDDLE Beaumont 13.5 mi 2.8
BOB HOPE SCHOOL BEAUMONT Port Arthur 13.8 mi 6.8
LUMBERTON EARLY CHILDHOOD SCH Lumberton 14.4 mi 5.0
MARSHALL MIDDLE Beaumont 14.0 mi 2.8

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 77659 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$108,461

Median Home Value

$233,800

Median Rent

$1,184/mo

Population

5,847

College Educated

26.6%

Homeownership

85.8%

Avg Commute

30.9 min

Poverty Rate

6.5%

Median Age

34.9

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
ACHZIGER EL Mesquite, TX 5.5
AIRPORT EL Weslaco, TX 5.5
AUSTIN EL Abilene, TX 5.5
BAILEY EL Pasadena, TX 5.5
BENBROOK EL Houston, TX 5.5
BONHAM EL Harlingen, TX 5.5

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Sour Lake EL

What grades does Sour Lake EL serve?

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

How many students attend Sour Lake EL?

Sour Lake EL has an enrollment of approximately 760 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Sour Lake EL?

The student-teacher ratio at Sour Lake EL is 15.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Sour Lake EL rank in TX?

Sour Lake EL ranks #5,663 of 8,552 schools in TX.

What is Sour Lake EL's MySchoolScout rating?

Sour Lake EL has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.5 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 Sour Lake EL?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Sour Lake EL has 69% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 71% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Is Sour Lake EL a charter school?

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

Is Sour Lake EL a Title I school?

No, Sour Lake EL is not currently a Title I school.

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

40.5% of students at Sour Lake 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
15 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
28 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
760
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.2:1
Teachers (FTE)
50
Free/Reduced Lunch
40.5%
Type
regular
Setting
Distant Rural
County
Hardin County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
14.9%

District

HARDIN-JEFFERSON ISD
District Enrollment
2,754
Schools in District
5
Per-Pupil Spending
$10,301
District Rank
#3 of 4

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 rate

Related reading

Get school insights in your inbox

New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.