The top reported proficiency rate is 39% in English language arts. The lowest is 24% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Thomas J Rusk El
Thomas J. Rusk Elementary is a small school serving the early grades in Nacogdoches, a historic town in East Texas centered on a university and a compact downtown. The school sits in a community where nearly all students come from low-income households and the majority are Hispanic, reflecting the demographics of the surrounding area.
On state testing, the school's results show the pattern you would expect from a school in a district working to rebuild after years of low performance: strength in the upper grades and English language arts, but uneven proficiency across the board. In fifth-grade English language arts, the proficiency rate reaches the low majority range. Fifth-grade math sits at about half, and fifth-grade science significantly lower. In the fourth grade, math proficiency is in the low range, though fourth-grade English language arts shows strength. Third grade results available for bilingual Spanish testing are quite low. Across all tested grades and subjects combined, the school's overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile within Nacogdoches County's nine school districts, a meaningful gap from the county median.
The district itself carries context worth understanding. Nacogdoches ISD holds a state accountability rating of D, maintained at that level for two consecutive years. Thomas J. Rusk, however, is among the district's stronger-performing campuses and earned a state rating of B. That distinction matters: it means the school itself is a relative bright spot in the system, even if the system as a whole is struggling. Still, the overall district standing means families should have direct, detailed conversations with the school about what academic supports are in place for students arriving at or below grade level, and what the trajectory looks like.
The neighborhood surrounding the school draws families from modest economic circumstances. Nearly all students qualify for free or reduced-price meals. Housing costs in the zip code are moderate relative to national benchmarks, and the town itself has steady development activity and a low unemployment rate, but family economics cluster toward the lower end. That composition shapes peer dynamics and the kinds of resources families need from a school.
The school feeds into a district where a major bond from a prior election continues to reshape facilities. That bond funded the rebuild of a neighboring elementary school and other campus work. Property taxes carry a debt service rate the district committed to voters, a fixed obligation that affects household budgets over time.
Nacogdoches as a place is compact and walkable in its core, with the university a major anchor and downtown showing revitalization energy. Parks, trails, and civic resources are present. It is not a high-growth suburb but rather a small town with roots and stability, where institutional life (the university, healthcare, processing industries) shapes the economic base more than sprawling residential development.
If your child is early elementary age, this is a school where proficiency grows as students move through the grades, particularly in English language arts. The fact that it carries a higher state rating than the district overall suggests the staff is doing intentional work. At the same time, the overall academic profile is one where parents should expect to engage closely with teachers, ask about early intervention and reading support, and understand the school's approach to students who are not immediately tracking at grade level. This is a school where family involvement and access to tutoring or at-home support can make a meaningful difference.
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