The top reported proficiency rate is 33% in English language arts. The lowest is 31% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Krause El
Krause Elementary is a public school in Brenham serving prekindergarten through fourth grade, located on the east side of town. It has a mid-sized enrollment for its grade band, and a substantial share of its students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic composition of its catchment.
The school's most recent state test results show proficiency that sits well below the midpoint among Washington County districts. In both English language arts and math, the proficiency rate hovers around one-third across the tested grades, with fourth-grade math slightly higher and third-grade English slightly above that range. When broken down by performance level, the pattern is consistent: a modest number of students score at the "meets" or "masters" levels, while the majority fall into the "approaches" category. This is a profile a parent may want to look into further with the school—understanding what supports exist, how the school assesses where each child stands, and what kind of progress tracking a family can expect.
Demographically, the school reflects Brenham's diversity. The student population is roughly evenly split between Hispanic and white students, with a substantial share of Black students as well. Nearly one in fifteen students is Asian or multiracial. The school serves a broad cross-section of the community rather than a narrow sliver.
Brenham is the county seat of Washington County, a mixed-use town anchored by its historic downtown centered on the courthouse square, bookended by retail corridors and residential neighborhoods. It is widely known as home to Blue Bell Creameries, which remains a dominant local employer. The town is growing steadily with new residential subdivisions, and housing values in the area are moderate relative to state and national benchmarks. Rentals run moderate as well, and the rent-to-income ratio suggests relative affordability for families on typical wages. The area's economy is diverse enough—manufacturing, food processing, retail, education, healthcare—that it does not lean heavily on a single employer, though Blue Bell's presence shapes local culture and pride.
Krause feeds into Brenham's public school system, which in November 2025 won voter approval for a major capital bond and a permanent increase in the property tax rate dedicated to teacher and staff compensation. This means the district is addressing aging infrastructure across its campuses and has committed to sustained salary improvements. Two earlier bond attempts had failed, in 2022 and again in 2023, so the 2025 passage represents a shift in community support for school funding. Families in the district should understand that property tax rates have risen as of 2025 and will remain elevated. In exchange, teacher pay has increased and long-deferred facility work is now funded.
Krause's test results suggest the school faces challenges in moving students toward proficiency, and a parent choosing this school would be wise to talk directly with teachers and administrators about intervention strategies, reading and math supports, and how the school tracks individual progress. The community itself is stable and growing, with a genuine civic identity and moderate cost of living.
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