The top reported proficiency rate is 46% in Math. The lowest is 18% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Nocona El
Nocona Elementary serves young students in a small rural district in northern Montague County. The school enrolls a modest student population in grades from prekindergarten through fifth grade, and sits on Montague Street in a town where schools are woven into the downtown grid rather than isolated on separate campuses. The student body is predominantly white, with a meaningful share identifying as Hispanic or from two or more races. About three in five students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a reflection of economic need in a rural community where income and opportunity patterns shift with agriculture, manufacturing, and energy sectors.
The most recent state assessment results, from spring 2025, show proficiency rates that are below the midpoint among Montague County districts and carry some weight for families evaluating the school. In third-grade math, about half of tested students met or exceeded proficiency; in fourth grade, the rate held at about half. By fifth grade, math proficiency drops to about one-third of tested students. Reading and language arts tell a similar story: third graders show about one-third proficiency, while fourth graders also sit around one-third. Fifth-grade reading performance is somewhat stronger at close to half. Science, tested only in fifth grade, is a softer area: roughly one in six fifth graders met proficiency. Across all subjects and grades, the school reports that most students at least approached standards, but the share meeting or exceeding expectations is narrower. A parent reviewing these numbers will want to consider what they signal: students are building foundational understanding, but deeper mastery lags, particularly in math by the upper elementary grades and across science.
The school's context includes the strengths and constraints of a rural district. Nocona ISD serves the town and surrounding area, and Nocona Elementary anchors early childhood and primary education. The housing market in the area is markedly affordable relative to state and national benchmarks, and the local economy, while stable, hinges on small-scale manufacturing, health care, and energy extraction rather than rapid job growth. Downtown Nocona has seen redevelopment efforts and some new residential development nearby, but the broader pattern is population stability rather than expansion, and the economic challenge of youth retention is real.
For families with young children, this school offers a grounded rural elementary experience in a close-knit community where schools and civic life share space. The proficiency results suggest students would benefit from strong home support in literacy and math, particularly as they move into third grade and beyond where measured outcomes tighten. A parent may want to look into further detail with the school about reading intervention approaches and the math curriculum in upper elementary grades, and about how the school supports students who do not yet meet grade-level expectations in core subjects.
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