Original Research by School Decision on Connally Early Childhood Center
Connally Early Childhood Center serves four- and five-year-olds in Waco, operating as part of Connally Independent School District. The school enrolls a small number of students, split roughly evenly between pre-K and kindergarten classes, and sits within a district navigating significant change.
The student body reflects Waco's demographics. Roughly equal shares identify as Black and white, with a substantial Hispanic enrollment as well. A very large majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a marker that most families served are at lower income levels. Data on special education or English learner identification was not available, which is typical for schools serving only the earliest grades where formal special education referral and English learner testing have not yet occurred widely.
The district context matters considerably for any family considering this school. Connally ISD entered state takeover in early 2026 after multiple campuses received five consecutive failing accountability ratings. The Texas Education Agency replaced the elected school board with an appointed board of managers and installed a conservator, signaling that the district is operating under state intervention and remains focused on academic turnaround. The state plans to re-evaluate whether the intervention continues in a few years. For families enrolling young children, this means the district leadership and instructional direction are in flux, though the district has implemented a uniform curriculum districtwide since 2023 and increased focus on behavior, culture, and attendance as part of its improvement effort.
The district is also consolidating elementary schools due to declining enrollment. The long-standing Connally Elementary School, where older elementary students were housed, is closing, with grades four and five moving to Connally Primary in nearby Elm Mott starting fall 2026. Voters rejected multiple bond elections between 2021 and 2024 to build a new elementary school, and the district canceled a later bond proposal in early 2026 in favor of this consolidation approach. For families with children currently in Connally ISD, this means a smaller footprint and eventual movement to different buildings as their children advance.
Waco itself is in the midst of significant downtown redevelopment, a large-scale vision being led by the City of Waco and a private master developer. Plans include new residential and office space, retail, and civic buildings. This reflects broader changes in the community that may shape housing and property values over time, though such projects remain works in progress.
The housing market in the Waco area is moderately priced relative to national benchmarks, and rents are reasonable by national standards. Homes cost somewhat less than the state average. For families considering early childhood programs as they establish themselves in Waco, this represents an affordable entry point, though the district's current state takeover and enrollment declines are factors worth discussing directly with school leadership before enrolling.
State testing data does not apply to pre-K and kindergarten, so academic performance measures are unavailable. What families can observe is that the district is under state oversight and working through a structured improvement process. The school itself has no graduation rate, discipline data, or attendance metrics available, as these measures are not tracked at the earliest grades.
See more original research from School Decision →