Sparta El, Belton TX - Test Scores & Data

Original Research by School Decision on Sparta El

Sparta Elementary is a regular public school serving kindergarten through fifth grade in Belton, a city in Bell County, Texas. The school is part of Belton ISD, which has been in a period of significant change shaped by growth and recent bond outcomes.

The school's current enrollment sits at a mid-sized level for its grade span, with roughly balanced classes across grades. About a quarter of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The student body is majority white, with meaningful representation from Hispanic and multiracial students, smaller numbers of Black and Asian students, and very few Native American and Pacific Islander students. Data on English learners and special education enrollment were not available.

On the most recent state assessments, Sparta's performance is mixed and shows a clear upward trend from third to fifth grade. In English language arts, proficiency ranges from moderate in third grade to stronger by fifth grade. In math, third grade starts low but improves considerably by fourth and fifth grades. Science proficiency in fifth grade sits at the lower end. Overall, the school sits above the midpoint on proficiency when compared to other districts in Bell County, though this aggregate position masks the challenge in the lower grades.

The pattern suggests that students either gain ground as they move through the school or that the school's instructional strength concentrates in the upper elementary years. A parent may want to look into how the school addresses the early-grade proficiency gaps, particularly in third-grade math, and what supports exist to close that distance before students advance.

Belton ISD itself is navigating a complex moment. A 2022 bond funded two new elementary schools to handle fast enrollment growth, and Sparta was one beneficiary of district-wide boundary shifts that took effect in the 2024-25 school year. In November 2025, however, voters rejected three of four bond propositions on aging facilities, athletic stadiums, and a swim center, approving only a technology measure. The district has publicly stated that its safety and learning-space needs remain unmet. This signals funding uncertainty as the district moves ahead, though it does not directly change what families experience at Sparta today.

The district recently implemented a full-day cell phone restriction under Texas law, effective for the 2025-26 school year, requiring all students to keep devices powered off or at home during instruction. This is a significant shift to the daily classroom environment that will apply to all Belton ISD campuses, including Sparta.

Housing in the Belton area is moderately priced and stable, with values and rental rates holding steady or edging slightly downward. Mortgage and rent payments remain below national and state benchmarks, making the area more affordable for families than much of Texas. Local unemployment is moderate and household incomes are above national median.

Sparta serves a growing community, and the school's position above the county midpoint in overall proficiency suggests it is meeting grade-level expectations for a meaningful share of students. The grade-level variation in results is the main point a prospective family should examine closely.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 329%

School 29% · District 39% · ▼ 10 pts below district

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

Grade 447%

School 47% · District 0% · ▲ 47 pts above district

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

Grade 559%

School 59% · District 0% · ▲ 59 pts above district

▲ 18 pts above state median · ▲ 21 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 344%

School 44% · District 49% · ▼ 5 pts below district

▼ 2 pts below state median · even with county median

Grade 456%

School 56% · District 9% · ▲ 47 pts above district

▲ 7 pts above state median · ▲ 9 pts above county median

Grade 566%

School 66% · District 59% · ▲ 7 pts above district

▲ 12 pts above state median · ▲ 16 pts above county median

Science

Grade 535%

School 35% · District 0% · ▲ 35 pts above district

▲ 12 pts above state median · ▲ 16 pts above county median

This schoolBELTON ISD, 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-income17%Higher-income53%36 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income21%Higher-income69%48 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income41%Higher-income75%34 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income13%Higher-income35%22 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income21%Higher-income56%35 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income26%Higher-income72%46 pp gap