Needs Improvement
#8216 of 8,552 schools in TX
- Math 7% vs TX 44% (2024)
- Reading 19% vs TX 54% (2024)
- 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at South Waco EL score 13% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 35%).
2024 STAAR proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. TX average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 68 points across the 16-year record (2009–2024) and has held near 13% recently.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 40% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 46% (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
93.7%
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 South Waco 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 25Car-Dependent
- Bike 48Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High2,558/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Waco), 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
$42,277
Median home value
$180,600
Median rent
$1,063/mo
College educated
22.6%
Homeownership
38.9%
Poverty rate
32.4%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 76706; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alta Vista ELCharter · enrollment unverified | 3.2 | PK–5 | 1.1 mi | 528 | Compare → |
| Bell's Hill ELEnrollment path unverified | 5.6 | PK–5 | 1.5 mi | 781 | Compare → |
| Summit School WacoPrivate · tuition | 6.7private | K–6 | 2.1 mi | 60 | Compare → |
| Live Oak Classical SchoolPrivate · tuition | 7.3private | PK–12 | 2.3 mi | 447 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Waco ISD
- Schools in district
- 24
- Rank in district
- #21 of 23
- District spending per student
- $14,294NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 27.0%Census SAIPE · 2024
South Waco EL is listed in WACO ISD; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About South Waco EL
South Waco EL is a public elementary school in Waco, TX, part of Waco ISD, serving approximately 477 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 3.2 out of 10 and ranks #8,216 of 8,552 schools in TX. State assessment records show 40% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 46% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about South Waco EL
What grades does South Waco EL serve?
South Waco EL serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend South Waco EL?
South Waco EL has an enrollment of approximately 477 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at South Waco EL?
The student-teacher ratio at South Waco EL is 14.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does South Waco EL rank in TX?
South Waco EL ranks #8,216 of 8,552 schools in TX.
What is South Waco EL's MySchoolScout rating?
South Waco EL has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.2 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 South Waco EL?
Based on loaded state assessment records, South Waco EL has 40% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 46% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is South Waco EL a charter school?
No, South Waco EL is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is South Waco EL a Title I school?
No, South Waco EL is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for South Waco EL?
93.7% of students at South Waco 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
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 477
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 14.5:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 33
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- McLennan County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 25.4%
- Phone
- (254) 753-6802
- Area population (ZIP 76706)
- 40,668
- Area average commute
- 17.3 min
- Area median age
- 23.8
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 76706; 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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