The top reported proficiency rate is 81% in English language arts. The lowest is 76% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Velma Penny El
Velma Penny Elementary sits in Lindale, a small East Texas town northeast of Tyler that is in the middle of a growth boom. The school serves first, second, and third grades only, with a student body drawn from a community that is changing rapidly in character and composition.
The school's third-grade proficiency results offer a clear read on its academic standing. In English language arts, the proficiency rate was strong; in math, proficiency also ran well above the threshold at which students meet grade-level standards. When looking across all tested grades and subjects together, the school's overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile among the nine districts in Smith County. This is a solid position. The school's data shows that nearly all students reach at least the "approaches" level in both subjects, and a significant share reach the "masters" level, which indicates depth of learning beyond minimum competency.
About half of Velma Penny's enrollment qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, a marker of economic need that is roughly in line with national norms. The student body is predominantly white, with a meaningful Hispanic population, a smaller contingent of students of two or more races, and very small numbers of Black and Asian students. The school's demographic makeup reflects the composition of the broader Lindale area at present, though the district's enrollment trends point toward a student population that will soon be majority Hispanic as regional demographic change unfolds.
Lindale ISD, the parent district, operates six campuses and serves several thousand students. The district has cut its property tax rate for roughly six consecutive years while at the same time launching a multi-phase facilities expansion to absorb enrollment growth. A 2023 tax ratification election allowed the district to capture revenue above the voter-approval cap and apply it to teacher and support-staff pay, which means families benefit from both lower property taxes and an effort to retain experienced educators. New construction is active across several residential subdivisions, and a major mixed-use development north of Interstate 20 broke ground in early 2025, signaling that growth momentum is expected to continue.
Velma Penny itself is a small school for its grade band, with enrollment distributed roughly evenly across the three grades. The building sits on Mount Sylvan Street in Lindale proper. State testing data is available only for third grade, so a complete picture of how students progress through the school is not visible from the results provided. Special education enrollment counts and English learner counts were not available in the data, so a parent may want to reach out to the school directly to understand the scope and nature of those support services.
See more original research from School Decision →