Very Good
#3300 of 8,552 schools in TX
Top 39% in state
Southside EL
Elementary School · PALESTINE ISD
201 GILLESPIE RD, Palestine, TX 75801
Enrollment
460
Student-Teacher
15.9:1
Score
7.0
Grades
2nd – 3rd
Enrollment
460
Student-Teacher
15.9:1
Score
7.0
Grades
2nd – 3rd
Data vintage
2022-23
Data vintage2022-23
How this school compares
Texas schools
#3,300 of 8,552
In Palestine
#3 of 10
public schools
In district
#3 of 6
PALESTINE ISD
School environment
8.2 / 10
Excellent
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Southside EL
Elementary School in Palestine · grades 2nd – 3rd. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.
Christian Heritage Academy
0.6 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
Palestine H S
1.2 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
About Southside EL
Southside EL is a public elementary school in Palestine, TX, part of PALESTINE ISD. Southside EL serves approximately 460 students, and covers grades 2nd-3rd, and has a 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio. Southside EL has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.0 out of 10 and ranks #3,300 of 8,552 schools in TX.
Structured state assessment records for Southside EL show 51% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2011-2024) and 53% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2011-2024).
- This school 7.0 · Very Good
- District avg 6.5
- TX avg 6.2
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Southside EL — Students at Southside EL score 42% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 38%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
84.8%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores TX STAAR (2023-24)
Based on 26 test records from TX state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
↓ DecliningAverage 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: 6.8/10.
How Southside EL Compares
See how Southside EL performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Programs & Offerings
Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more
Location
201 GILLESPIE RD, Palestine, TX 75801
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Southside EL may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. ELKHART EL (rated 9.2/10, 8.3 miles away, in nearby Elkhart), which scores notably higher. Another option is SLOCUM PK - 8 (rated 7.8/10, 12.2 miles away, in nearby Elkhart), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, NECHES EL (rated 7.3/10, 11.9 miles away, in nearby Neches), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Palestine, see our Palestine schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 17.2 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| CHRISTIAN HERITAGE ACADEMY Palestine | 0.6 mi | 6.0 |
| PALESTINE H S Palestine | 1.2 mi | 7.9 |
| PALESTINE J H Palestine | 1.3 mi | 8.0 |
| WASHINGTON EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER Palestine | 2.0 mi | 4.1 |
| STORY INT Palestine | 2.6 mi | 6.0 |
| UT TYLER UNIVERSITY ACADEMY AT PALESTINE Tyler | 2.7 mi | 8.3 |
| NORTHSIDE PRI Palestine | 3.4 mi | 6.1 |
| WESTWOOD EL Palestine | 3.3 mi | 5.4 |
| WESTWOOD H S Palestine | 3.3 mi | 5.2 |
| WESTWOOD J H Palestine | 3.5 mi | 4.1 |
| WESTWOOD PRI Palestine | 3.6 mi | 5.6 |
| ELKHART H S Elkhart | 6.4 mi | 7.2 |
| ELKHART MIDDLE Elkhart | 8.2 mi | 7.1 |
| ELKHART EL Elkhart | 8.3 mi | 9.2 |
| ELKHART INT Elkhart | 8.3 mi | 7.2 |
| NECHES EL Neches | 11.9 mi | 7.3 |
| SLOCUM H S Elkhart | 12.2 mi | 9.3 |
| SLOCUM PK - 8 Elkhart | 12.2 mi | 7.8 |
| NECHES H S Neches | 12.7 mi | 9.5 |
| OAKWOOD H S Oakwood | 17.2 mi | 6.9 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 75801 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$53,485
Median Home Value
$163,100
Median Rent
$1,003/mo
Population
16,891
College Educated
21.3%
Homeownership
59.1%
Avg Commute
22.9 min
Poverty Rate
15.6%
Median Age
35.2
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| ALFRED SORENSEN EL San Juan, TX | 7.0 |
| ALICE D CONTRERAS Fort Worth, TX | 7.0 |
| AMANDA GARZA-PENA EL San Juan, TX | 7.0 |
| BACK EL Rowlett, TX | 7.0 |
| BLACKBURN EL Forney, TX | 7.0 |
| CALDWELL EL Mckinney, TX | 7.0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Southside EL
What grades does Southside EL serve?
Southside EL serves students in grades 2nd through 3rd.
How many students attend Southside EL?
Southside EL has an enrollment of approximately 460 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Southside EL?
The student-teacher ratio at Southside EL is 15.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Southside EL rank in TX?
Southside EL ranks #3,300 of 8,552 schools in TX.
What is Southside EL's MySchoolScout rating?
Southside EL has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.0 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 Southside EL?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Southside EL has 51% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2011-2024) and 53% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2011-2024).
Is Southside EL a charter school?
No, Southside EL is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Southside EL a Title I school?
No, Southside EL is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Southside EL?
84.8% of students at Southside 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.
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Neighborhood Context
Powered by 
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- 2nd – 3rd
- Enrollment
- 460
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15.9:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 29
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 84.8%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Town
- County
- Anderson County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 8.7%
- Phone
- (903) 731-8023
Resources & Links
District
PALESTINE ISD- District Enrollment
- 3,247
- Schools in District
- 6
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $14,146
- District Rank
- #3 of 6
Other Schools in This District
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