Neches El, Palestine TX - Test Scores & Data

Original Research by School Decision on Neches El

Neches Elementary serves the preK–6 grades across a small rural campus in Palestine, Texas, drawing from a school community where roughly half of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals. The school is part of Neches ISD, which covers Anderson County in East Texas between Dallas and Houston.

The school's recent state assessment results show mixed proficiency across grades. Fourth grade stands notably higher in both math and English language arts, with roughly two-thirds of students meeting the state's proficiency standard in each subject. Third, fifth, and sixth grades cluster lower: in the high third-to-low fifth-grade range for either subject, with fifth grade particularly struggling on science. When the data shows grade-level samples of small size, readers may want to understand whether variation reflects teaching differences or simply year-to-year demographic shifts in cohort. Across all grades tested, a modest share of students—roughly half school-wide—reach the "meets" level (proficiency), while most of the remainder fall into the "approaches" band rather than falling below. For context, this school's overall proficiency index sits below the midpoint among the seven districts in Anderson County.

The school's enrollment of roughly one hundred eighty students is evenly distributed across preK through sixth grade, with the majority of students identifying as white and smaller shares of Black and Hispanic students. The locale is classified as "Town: Distant," reflecting Palestine's setting as a county seat with car-dependent daily life outside its walkable historic downtown. Neches Elementary is located on FM 2574, away from the city center where the older commercial and civic life concentrates.

A parent context worth noting: Neches ISD voters rejected a bond proposition in May 2023 that would have funded facility improvements. The district's most recent major facility investment was a new elementary-junior high opened in the mid-1990s. For families considering enrollment, this means capital improvements have been deferred and physical plant expansion is unlikely in the near term without future voter approval.

The school offers a range of athletics including baseball, basketball, cross country, softball, tennis, track and field, and volleyball, typical of small Texas rural schools. Beyond these, limited information is publicly available about specialized programs, curriculum pathways, or enrichment offerings. A parent may want to reach out to the school directly to learn more about literacy or math support structures, gifted identification, or other academic supports that might be available for students working toward proficiency.

See more original research from School Decision →

Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 341%

School 41% · District 41%

▲ 1 pts above state median

Grade 466%

School 66% · District 66%

▲ 25 pts above state median

Grade 540%

School 40% · District 40%

▼ 1 pts below state median

Grade 643%

School 43% · District 43%

▲ 9 pts above state median

English language arts

Grade 336%

School 36% · District 36%

▼ 10 pts below state median

Grade 469%

School 69% · District 69%

▲ 20 pts above state median

Grade 535%

School 35% · District 35%

▼ 19 pts below state median

Grade 657%

School 57% · District 57%

▲ 5 pts above state median

Science

Grade 530%

School 30% · District 30%

▲ 7 pts above state median

Social studies

Grade 848%

School 48% · District 25% · ▲ 23 pts above district

▲ 24 pts above state median · ▲ 10 pts above county median

This schoolNECHES ISD, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 3Lower-income42%Higher-income38%4 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income63%Higher-income80%17 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income25%Higher-income50%25 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income11%Higher-income86%75 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income50%Higher-income71%21 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income60%Higher-income91%31 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income42%Higher-income50%8 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income63%Higher-income73%10 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income33%Higher-income50%17 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income0%Higher-income71%71 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income64%Higher-income86%22 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income60%Higher-income91%31 pp gap