University of Texas El Charter School, Austin TX

Original Research by School Decision on University of Texas El Charter School

University of Texas EL Charter School serves early grades in East Austin. It is a small campus of about that size for elementary, running from pre-K through fifth grade, with a student body that is majority Hispanic, nearly a third of students are Black, and the remainder split among white, Asian, and multiracial students. Close to three-fifths of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating substantial economic need in the families served.

The school's state test results show mixed performance across subjects and grades. In English language arts, third-grade results are comparatively stronger, with about half of students meeting proficiency. Fourth and fifth grades drop to under half meeting proficiency. Math results are weaker across the board. Third grade hovers around a third of students proficient, fourth grade nudges closer to half, and fifth grade falls back to about a third. Science testing in fifth grade shows especially low attainment. Across all tested areas, the school sits above the midpoint on proficiency compared to other districts in Travis County, though the absolute numbers indicate room for improvement. A parent may want to discuss with the school what instructional approaches or supports are in place, particularly in math and science, where results trail further behind the state's proficiency standards.

The school operates as a tuition-free charter under the University of Texas at Austin's governance, admitting students through lottery. It is located on the East Side of Austin, in a neighborhood that is walkable and mixed in character, home to a substantial share of the city's Hispanic and Black residents. The area offers both established residential blocks and rising commercial activity. Austin itself is in the midst of rapid growth, with steady new housing construction and an economy anchored in technology, semiconductors, and state government. Housing values in the school's zipcode have softened slightly in recent months, though remain above state and national benchmarks, and rental rates are modest and stable. The school sits within reach of downtown, the University of Texas campus, and the city's growing transit system.

No trend data was available to show whether proficiency is rising or falling. Data on English learner enrollment and special education service rates were not provided. The school's specific programs, staffing levels, or school-climate information were not available from the sources reviewed. A parent considering this school would benefit from visiting directly to understand the classroom experience, asking about curriculum and teaching approaches, and getting a sense of the community that has chosen this school.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 332%

School 32% · District 32%

▼ 8 pts below state median · ▼ 6 pts below county median

Grade 445%

School 45% · District 45%

▲ 4 pts above state median · ▲ 12 pts above county median

Grade 531%

School 31% · District 31%

▼ 10 pts below state median · ▼ 7 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 357%

School 57% · District 57%

▲ 11 pts above state median · ▲ 12 pts above county median

Grade 445%

School 45% · District 45%

▼ 4 pts below state median · ▲ 1 pts above county median

Grade 538%

School 38% · District 38%

▼ 16 pts below state median · ▼ 12 pts below county median

Science

Grade 510%

School 10% · District 10%

▼ 13 pts below state median · ▼ 8 pts below county median

This schoolUNIVERSITY OF TEXAS ELEMENTARY CHARTER SCHOOL, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 3Lower-income52%Higher-income67%15 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income27%Higher-income72%45 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income24%Higher-income52%28 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income21%Higher-income53%32 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income23%Higher-income78%55 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income29%Higher-income33%4 pp gap