Sands Cisd, TX - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on Sands Cisd

Sands CISD is a small district serving PreK through 12 in Dawson County, West Texas, with a total enrollment of about a few hundred students across all grade levels. The district operates a single campus, a newly constructed PreK-12 building that opened in late 2024, replacing the district's former aging facility. The bond-funded campus represents a major infrastructure investment designed around safety and access.

The student body is roughly evenly split between white and Hispanic enrollment, with small populations of American Indian and multi-racial students and very few Asian students. The district does not report free-or-reduced-price-lunch rates or special population counts (IEP and English learner data), so a parent seeking that information should ask the district directly. Enrollment across grade levels is relatively consistent, with elementary and middle grades in the low-to-mid range and high school grades somewhat smaller, which is typical of rural districts.

On state assessments, Sands shows a mixed profile. In English language arts, performance is stronger, particularly in the middle grades where reading proficiency reaches solid levels by eighth grade. Third-grade math proficiency is weak, but performance improves markedly in the upper elementary and middle grades, with eighth-grade math showing a majority of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards. Science proficiency is variable: fifth graders show low performance, while eighth graders demonstrate stronger results. Eighth-grade social studies is below the midpoint. Across all tested subjects, the district's overall proficiency index places it above the midpoint among Dawson County's districts, a position achieved despite the lower early elementary math results.

One soft spot parents may want to discuss with the school is performance in third-grade math, where only a small portion of students demonstrate proficiency. This is an entry point where early intervention could shape trajectories. The strength in later grades suggests that older students are being served well, but the early elementary gap may signal a curriculum or instructional area worth exploring.

Chronic absenteeism in the district is notably low and ranks in the top quartile among county peers, suggesting strong engagement and attendance practices. Per-pupil current spending is in the upper range for the county, reflecting the district's investment capacity and the recent campus modernization.

The new facility itself is a tangible change for families considering the district. The campus was designed with safety and access as priorities, and it consolidates the entire PreK-12 population under one roof, which can simplify scheduling, transportation, and community cohesion in a small district.

Housing in the district's service area is moderately priced relative to national averages and reflects typical West Texas market conditions. Property values have shown modest appreciation year-over-year, and rental costs are lower than mortgage costs, making the area accessible for families seeking rural, small-town education with modern facilities.

Sands CISD serves families seeking a small-school environment where all grades are together, backed by a fresh physical plant and low absenteeism. The testing results show strength in upper grades and ELA but warrant a closer look at early elementary math instruction if that is a concern for your child.

See more original research from School Decision →

District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

246

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 43%

White 54%

Asian 0%

Two+ 2%

Am. Indian / AK Native 1%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

42%

—

Gr 4

50%

60%

Gr 5

53%

—

Gr 6

67%

Gr 7

73%

60%

Gr 8

90%

88%

Math

Gr 3

17%

—

Gr 4

17%

50%

Gr 5

47%

—

Gr 6

18%

44%

Gr 7

27%

40%

Gr 8

50%

63%

Science

Gr 5

13%

—

Gr 8

80%

63%

Social studies

Gr 8

60%

25%

all_subjects_approaches

Gr ALL

63%

—

all_subjects_masters

Gr ALL

10%

—

all_subjects_meets

Gr ALL

24%

—

ela_approaches

Gr ALL

64%

—

ela_masters

Gr ALL

—

ela_meets

Gr ALL

23%

—

math_approaches

Gr ALL

47%

—

math_masters

Gr ALL

11%

—

math_meets

Gr ALL

21%

—

social_studies_approaches

Gr ALL

83%

—

social_studies_masters

Gr ALL

17%

—

social_studies_meets

Gr ALL

17%

—

Schools in this District

1 schools are officially reported under this district.

SANDS CISD

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

6 grades reported

21%

Grade 3

38%

Grade 4

53%

Grade 5

30%

Grade 6

33%

Grade 7

56%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

50%

Grade 3

56%

Grade 4

63%

Grade 5

35%

Grade 6

67%

Grade 7

89%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

21%

Grade 5

72%

Grade 8

Social Studies

1 grade reported

44%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$135,074

Year-over-year change+6.0%

Range across 2 ZIP codes$115K to $145K

vs. state typical0.45x

vs. national typical0.37x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (2 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
79720	Big Spring	$145K	+5.0%	22.0%
79331	Lamesa	$115K	+8.3%	10.2%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,288/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (1 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
79720	Big Spring	$1,288	—	22.0%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$682/mo

Home price / national median income1.6x

Annual rent / national median income18.4%

Rent exceeds est. mortgage by$606/mo

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.