The top reported proficiency rate is 46% in Math. The lowest is 0% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Colt El
# COLT EL
Colt EL is a public elementary school serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in Marble Falls, a small Hill Country city that sits within a rapidly developing region. The school enrolls a student body that is roughly evenly split between Hispanic and White students, with a substantial share qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. The school is one of two elementary buildings in Marble Falls ISD.
## Academic Performance
The school's state test results show proficiency rates in the mid-range. In third grade, roughly four in ten students meet or exceed state proficiency in math, with a similar proportion meeting the bar in reading. Fourth-grade math proficiency edges up modestly, while fifth-grade math and reading both hover near or just above the midpoint. When measured against districts in Burnet County, Colt EL's overall proficiency index places it above the median, suggesting competitive standing within the county context.
Breaking down the performance picture: math shows the most progress moving up the grades, with third-graders at the lowest point and fifth-graders near or above the median; reading is relatively stable across grades. Social studies proficiency is notably lower. Fifth-grade results in science, measured on a small Spanish-language cohort, showed no students at proficiency, though this reflects a very small test group and should be read with that context in mind.
The school reports that nearly three-quarters of students meet or approach proficiency when results across all subjects are pooled, a measure that catches students closer to grade-level work even if they have not yet met the full proficiency bar. For parents weighing this data: the school shows solid foundational learning in the middle grades and steady improvement in math, but reading performance is not moving steeply upward, and proficiency gaps are visible in social studies. A parent may want to explore with the school what specific instructional supports exist for students approaching but not yet meeting grade-level expectations, and whether any targeted reading initiatives are underway.
## Student Population and Community
Colt EL's enrollment is balanced across grade levels, with the largest groups in the lower elementary grades. A substantial majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting economic need in the school's catchment. The student body is culturally diverse, split nearly evenly between Hispanic and White students with small percentages of other backgrounds represented.
The school sits in Marble Falls, a city on a steep growth trajectory. Between late 2024 and mid-2025, the city added multiple housing developments, and hundreds more units are either permitted or in the pipeline. This growth is reshaping school enrollment demand. Marble Falls ISD recently passed a major bond package to fund new facilities, building renovations, and a multipurpose athletic facility, signaling that the district is investing in capacity alongside the housing expansion. However, voters rejected a property-tax increase in November 2024 that would have funded staffing and program expansion, a setback the district is still working through.
The housing market in the area shows median values moderately above Texas statewide benchmarks, with rents also on an upward trajectory. For families relocating to the area, housing is being built rapidly but at a pace the city itself is working to manage, including concerns about water supply as growth accelerates.
## School Environment and Context
State testing data for elementary grades does not include participation rates, so it is not possible to assess whether all students were present for testing or whether results reflect a full cohort. Special education and English learner enrollment counts are not available in the provided data; families would benefit from asking the school directly about services and class composition if this is relevant to their child.
Colt EL is a neighborhood elementary school without charter or magnet designation, serving the regular curriculum. The school's location at 2200 Manzano Mile places it on the edge of Marble Falls's expanding residential footprint, away from the downtown core. This is typical of the district's campus model: schools sit on separated facilities rather than embedded in mixed-use neighborhoods.
For a parent or family considering this school, the main questions center on whether the reading and social studies performance trajectories match what you're looking for, whether the rapid-growth context of the district and community fits your timeline and preferences, and whether the school's supports for students approaching proficiency align with your child's learning profile. The bond investment suggests the district is committed to facility upgrades and growth accommodation; the failed property-tax election suggests families should understand ongoing budget conversations as the district balances growth with revenue constraints.
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