The top reported proficiency rate is 37% in Math. The lowest is 16% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Rj Richey El
RJ Richey Elementary serves third through fifth grade in Burnet, a small Hill Country county seat about an hour's drive north of Austin. The school sits on a campus separate from downtown's courthouse square, part of a district that is actively preparing for growth through new bond-funded facilities and expanded classroom space.
The school has about five hundred students, with a substantial majority of the enrollment qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. The student body is predominantly white, with a meaningful Hispanic population and smaller numbers of other racial and ethnic groups. Data on English learners and special education enrollment were not available.
State test results from the most recent year show mixed academic performance across the grade levels and subjects the school serves. In math, third-graders scored at rates below what would be expected from the state standard, and fourth graders performed similarly or somewhat lower. Fifth-grade math data are sparse due to small cohort size. In English language arts, fifth graders performed at modest levels, while third and fourth graders taking the Spanish-language assessment showed very low proficiency, though those groups were quite small. The school's overall proficiency index places it below the median among Burnet County districts. A parent may want to look into further detail with the district and school about the academic support in place, especially in the foundational skill areas of reading and math in the lower elementary grades.
On a comparative basis, RJ Richey sits at or near the bottom of measured outcomes in its county. The school does not yet benefit from the recent bond-funded classroom additions approved by voters, which include funding specifically for Richey and are intended to accommodate district growth. The district also approved a larger bond package in 2026 that will reshape middle and high school capacity but will create resource activity across the system.
Burnet itself is characterized by a tight-knit downtown anchored around a working courthouse square with historic shops, cafes, and civic anchors like the Herman Brown Free Library and Hamilton Creek Park. The broader area reflects a rural Hill Country character with lake access and ranch land, though the town and county are experiencing growth tied to regional migration from Austin. Housing values in the area remain moderate relative to state and national benchmarks, and affordability by rent is solid. The district is the largest employer in the area, alongside healthcare, manufacturing, and county services.
Families choosing RJ Richey should understand that this is an elementary school in a rural, growing community with performance metrics that fall below county averages on state tests. The school serves grades three through five and sits within a district actively investing in facility expansion and academic growth, signaling institutional commitment to change. For families prioritizing strong early-grade academics or seeking a school with above-average test performance, this may not be the best fit; for families drawn to a small-town setting with community orientation and willingness to engage closely with school performance data and support, it warrants a direct conversation with the principal and teachers.
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