Baird Isd, TX - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on Baird Isd

Baird ISD is a small public district serving prekindergarten through twelfth grade in Callahan County, Texas. The district encompasses about ten communities across the region and operates two schools: an elementary campus and a high school. The enrollment is small, with roughly three hundred fifty students, and the student body is predominantly white, with a substantial Hispanic student population and smaller numbers of students from other backgrounds. Specific data on students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, as well as counts of English learners and those with individualized education plans, was not available in the district's current reporting.

Academic performance shows mixed results across subjects and grade levels. In English language arts, students generally perform better in the elementary years, with proficiency notably stronger in grade five. Reading comprehension declines in the middle grades and shows recovery by eighth grade. Mathematics proficiency is weaker overall, particularly in third and sixth grades, though it improves in grades four, five, and eight. Science proficiency is moderate, while social studies proficiency is notably low across the tested grade, suggesting this subject area may benefit from closer attention.

The district's overall academic proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile among Callahan County districts, according to state comparison data. Parents may want to look further with the school directly about remediation efforts, classroom resources, and any initiatives to address proficiency gaps, particularly in math and social studies.

One significant district issue relevant to parents is staffing stability. Baird ISD has faced a persistent teacher-recruitment and retention challenge tied to a shortage of affordable rental housing in the community. The district twice sought voter approval for a bond to construct approximately ten to fifteen homes for teachers at market-rate rents. That measure appeared on the ballot in November 2025 and again in May 2026, but failed both times, so the housing shortage remains unresolved. This context matters for understanding long-term personnel continuity.

Chronic absenteeism in the district is higher than the county median, which may reflect either transportation challenges in a geographically spread rural area or other attendance barriers worth exploring with school leadership. The district spends per pupil at a higher rate than comparable districts in the county, suggesting either smaller efficiency or intentional investment in student services.

The housing market in the Baird area is moderately affordable relative to national and state benchmarks. Home values in the district's core zip code have appreciated modestly year-over-year. Mortgage affordability is reasonable, making the area accessible to families with modest incomes, though rural housing options remain limited, as the failed teacher-housing bond illustrates.

Baird ISD serves a genuinely rural, small-town student population in a county with limited population growth. Families considering the district should expect a tightly knit community school environment, relatively small class sizes, and more limited program diversity than larger urban or suburban systems. The academic foundation in reading is workable at the elementary level but softens as students advance, and mathematics requires attention across multiple grades. Staffing turnover related to housing shortages is an ongoing concern that may affect classroom continuity. Parents committed to a rural, small-town setting and willing to supplement academic support should evaluate school-level strengths and individual teacher fit before enrolling.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

358

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 26%

Black 1%

White 71%

Two+ 3%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

22%

29%

Gr 4

47%

33%

Gr 5

73%

54%

Gr 6

56%

45%

Gr 7

25%

40%

Gr 8

45%

60%

Math

Gr 3

16%

29%

Gr 4

53%

17%

Gr 5

45%

54%

Gr 6

27%

36%

Gr 7

13%

40%

Gr 8

36%

60%

Science

Gr 5

55%

62%

Gr 8

36%

40%

Social studies

Gr 8

20%

all_subjects_approaches

Gr ALL

48%

—

all_subjects_masters

Gr ALL

10%

—

all_subjects_meets

Gr ALL

21%

—

ela_approaches

Gr ALL

44%

—

ela_masters

Gr ALL

12%

—

ela_meets

Gr ALL

24%

—

math_approaches

Gr ALL

52%

—

math_masters

Gr ALL

—

math_meets

Gr ALL

12%

—

science_approaches

Gr ALL

38%

—

science_masters

Gr ALL

13%

—

science_meets

Gr ALL

38%

—

social_studies_approaches

Gr ALL

67%

—

social_studies_masters

Gr ALL

—

social_studies_meets

Gr ALL

22%

—

Schools in this District

2 schools are officially reported under this district.

BAIRD H S

BAIRD EL

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

6 grades reported

19%

Grade 3

43%

Grade 4

50%

Grade 5

31%

Grade 6

23%

Grade 7

44%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

24%

Grade 3

43%

Grade 4

63%

Grade 5

52%

Grade 6

31%

Grade 7

50%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

58%

Grade 5

38%

Grade 8

Social Studies

1 grade reported

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$193,027

Year-over-year change+6.3%

Range across 3 ZIP codes$152K to $224K

vs. state typical0.64x

vs. national typical0.52x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (3 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
79504	Baird	$198K	+7.3%	74.9%
76437	Cisco	$152K	-0.9%	9.9%
79510	Clyde	$224K	+6.2%	1.8%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$974/mo

Home price / national median income2.3x

Comparison

State typical home value$302,187 (-2.0% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.