The top reported proficiency rate is 63% in Math. The lowest is 47% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Hicks El
Hicks Elementary is a small primary school in Corpus Christi serving the early grades from pre-K through fifth. The enrollment is modest, with roughly a hundred students per grade level and about a hundred more in the pre-K and kindergarten cohort combined. The student body is predominantly Hispanic, and an overwhelming majority of families qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting a low-income catchment area.
The school's most recent state assessment data covers fourth grade in English and math. In fourth-grade math, about three-fifths of students met or exceeded proficiency. In English language arts, the proficiency rate drops to roughly half. Grade three and grade five testing data are reported only for a very small number of students taking the Spanish-language version of the state test, so those results are not representative of the broader cohort and are not reported here. Science assessment occurs only at grade five and similarly shows sparse participation. State testing data for grades one, two, and pre-K are not available because Texas does not test those grade levels.
The school's aggregated performance across all tested subjects and grade levels places it above the midpoint when compared to other elementary schools in Nueces County, even as the individual proficiency numbers show rooms for improvement. The data capture only one year, so no trend is available. A parent may want to look into the school's approach to English language arts instruction, given the gap between math and reading proficiency.
Hicks sits in Corpus Christi, a coastal city with a mixed-character economy anchored by military installations, energy and petrochemical industry, healthcare, and port activity. The city is sprawling and car-dependent; most residential growth and new school investment is happening on the Southside and westside, away from older neighborhoods. Housing values in the area are moderate compared to state and national benchmarks, and rental costs are similarly accessible. Homeownership affordability is reasonable relative to local incomes.
The broader context for Corpus Christi ISD is significant. The district voted in January 2026 to close seven campuses for the 2026-27 school year, a major consolidation driven by enrollment decline and budget deficits. The district has shed a substantial number of students over several years and is operating with a deficit budget. A school construction bond failed in November 2024. These dynamics mean the district's resources and attendance zones are in flux. Hicks Elementary itself was not on the closure list, but families should be aware that rezoning and facility changes are underway across the district and may affect future assignments or commutes. The district's property tax rate has held steady while enrollment and revenues have fallen, a squeeze that shapes what resources remain available for instruction and school support.
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