The top reported proficiency rate is 33% in English language arts. The lowest is 11% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Kelley El
Kelley Elementary is a regular public school serving grades three through five in Denver City, a small oil-and-gas town in southern Yoakum County near the New Mexico border. The school sits within the town center as part of Denver City ISD. The enrollment is small, with about a hundred or so students in each grade, and a clear majority of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch. The population is predominantly Hispanic; a substantial minority of students are white, and the remainder represent other groups in single digits.
The 2024-25 state assessment results tell a mixed story across subjects and grades. In English language arts, fifth-grade performance stands out: a solid majority of students met or exceeded proficiency on the STAAR assessment. Third and fourth grades in ELA show weaker outcomes, with no students in third grade reaching proficiency and too few fourth graders tested to report results. In math, the pattern is similar: fifth graders showed modest proficiency, while third and fourth grades showed either no proficiency or insufficient testing numbers. Science proficiency in fifth grade is low, with only a small fraction of students meeting the standard. Social studies proficiency rates are similarly constrained across the grades for which data was reported.
The broader academic profile reflects challenge in the school. When measured across all tested subjects and grades, proficiency sits below the midpoint among the county's two districts. Fifth graders in English language arts represent the school's strongest cohort; younger grades and science results present areas where a parent may want to look into further with the school what supports are in place and what the pathway forward looks like.
The broader context shapes Kelley's reality. Denver City itself is a tight-knit residential community of about a few thousand people with a work-centered character tied to oil and gas; it has experienced long-term population decline from its mid-twentieth-century peak, though it stabilized somewhat at the 2020 census. The town is car-dependent, with no public transit and most daily life anchored by the town center, where schools, the library, and the hospital sit clustered. Housing is affordable by state and national standards; median home values are below the state benchmark. The school district is currently undertaking construction of a new high school, reflecting ongoing investment in facilities.
A parent considering Kelley should understand that this is a school in a resource-constrained community where academic proficiency is below district comparison, particularly in grades three and four and in science. The school's strength lies primarily in fifth-grade English language arts. Younger students and those entering the school will encounter lower baseline performance data; how the school works to close those gaps and support progression would be worth understanding in detail through conversations with the school.
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