Palo Pinto Isd, TX - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on Palo Pinto Isd

Palo Pinto ISD serves a small district of about a hundred students across pre-K through sixth grade, making it one of the smallest systems in Palo Pinto County. The district operates a single elementary campus in a rural, sparsely populated area where the majority of students are white, with a smaller Hispanic population. The district is defined by one major operational fact: it switched to a four-day school week starting in the 2022-23 school year and has continued that schedule, with school running Monday through Thursday, 7:35 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Fridays off. This is a substantial shift in family routine and childcare planning.

Academic performance in the district is uneven across grades and subjects. In English language arts, results are notably strong. Fourth grade students achieved proficiency at a high rate, and fifth graders performed at full proficiency, suggesting solid literacy instruction in the middle elementary grades. Third and sixth grade results in ELA were also solid, though slightly lower. Math proficiency shows more variation. Fourth grade performed well, and fifth grade results were strong, but third grade achieved at a moderate level, and sixth grade fell to a lower proficiency rate. Performance dips notably in the younger tested grades in math, which is a common pattern but one a parent might want to explore with the school directly. Science results were reported only for fifth grade, where proficiency was strong. Social studies performance was notably high, with all students meeting at least the foundational level.

When viewed across proficiency levels, the district shows that most students reach basic competency in both ELA and math. A majority reach the "meets" standard in ELA, and a solid plurality do so in math. Fewer students achieve mastery-level performance, particularly in math. This profile suggests the district has established baseline instruction in core subjects, with more modest depth of knowledge demonstrated at the highest performance tiers.

Among Palo Pinto County's districts, Palo Pinto ISD ranks in the top quartile for overall proficiency, a meaningful distinction in a rural county context. That said, the district's chronic absenteeism rate sits in the bottom quartile among county peers, which is a potential area of concern; attendance patterns directly affect learning, and a parent might want to understand what drives absenteeism in this population and what supports are available. Per-pupil spending in the district is in the upper range compared to county peers, reflecting the very small enrollment base and fixed costs spread thinly.

The community where this district operates is rural Palo Pinto County. Median home values are modest and have remained relatively stable, with weighted values in the mid-range for the county. Mortgage affordability for a typical buyer sits at roughly four times median household income, slightly above the national benchmark. The local economy has moderate unemployment and a median household income that has fluctuated slightly over recent years but remains reasonable for a rural area. Housing markets across the district's service area range widely, from lower-cost homes in Mineral Wells to pricier rural properties in areas like Graford, reflecting the geographic diversity of this small district.

A parent or resident should know that this is a very small system, which brings both advantages and constraints. Class sizes are naturally limited by enrollment, and school life is likely to be close-knit. The four-day week is a defining feature that works well for some families and creates childcare challenges for others. Academic instruction is competent in the middle grades, particularly in reading, though math results suggest variable mastery. The school is rural and serves students whose families are deeply rooted in Palo Pinto County's small towns and ranching areas. If you are new to or considering the area, the district's size, the four-day schedule, and the attendance patterns are factors worth discussing directly with the school before enrolling.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

102

Grades

PK–06

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 15%

White 83%

Two+ 2%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

88%

83%

Gr 4

88%

100%

Gr 6

—

100%

Math

Gr 3

88%

33%

Gr 4

75%

78%

Gr 6

—

67%

all_subjects_approaches

Gr ALL

80%

—

all_subjects_masters

Gr ALL

20%

—

all_subjects_meets

Gr ALL

60%

—

ela_approaches

Gr ALL

100%

—

ela_masters

Gr ALL

20%

—

ela_meets

Gr ALL

80%

—

math_approaches

Gr ALL

60%

—

math_masters

Gr ALL

20%

—

math_meets

Gr ALL

40%

—

Schools in this District

1 schools are officially reported under this district.

PALO PINTO EL

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

4 grades reported

64%

Grade 3

76%

Grade 4

86%

Grade 5

58%

Grade 6

English Language Arts

4 grades reported

86%

Grade 3

94%

Grade 4

100%

Grade 5

83%

Grade 6

Science

1 grade reported

86%

Grade 5

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$350,001

Year-over-year change+0.6%

Range across 5 ZIP codes$206K to $634K

vs. state typical1.16x

vs. national typical0.95x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (5 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
76475	Strawn	$318K	+0.9%	40.5%
76484		$372K	-1.3%	23.5%
76067	Mineral Wells	$206K	-0.5%	21.1%
76449	Graford	$634K	+3.4%	12.8%
76429	Breckenridge	$434K	+7.2%	2.2%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$1,766/mo

Home price / national median income4.2x

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.