The top reported proficiency rate is 69% in English language arts. The lowest is 64% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Birch El
Birch El is a first-through-fourth-grade elementary school in Longview, Texas, serving a student body of moderate size centered in the early grades. The school draws from a community with a substantial working-class and skilled-trades base alongside healthcare employment, set in what is described as a blue-collar town with an identifiable downtown mixing professional services, retail, and cultural amenities.
The school's academic profile reflects solid middling performance. In math, students in third grade showed proficiency just above half, while fourth graders moved to nearly seven-tenths proficient. English language arts results cluster in the mid-to-high range, with both tested grades at roughly seven in ten meeting or exceeding grade-level standards. Across all tested subjects at Birch El, roughly nine in ten students reach the "approaches grade level" threshold, roughly one-third reach the "masters" level, and roughly two-thirds meet the standard. When placed against the other districts in Gregg County, Birch El's overall proficiency index sits in the top quartile, a meaningful position. The school's data comes from the Texas assessment system, and only math and English language arts are reported for elementary grades; science and social studies testing are not administered at this level.
The student body is economically and racially diverse. About seven in ten students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting substantial economic need in the attendance zone. Racial composition is mixed, with white students representing the largest single group, followed closely by Hispanic students, then Black students, and smaller numbers of Asian and multiracial students. Data on students receiving special education services or English learner support was not provided in available records.
Longview's economy centers on healthcare, manufacturing, chemicals, and rail, with major employers including hospital systems, Eastman Chemical, Trinity Rail, and Walmart, alongside education institutions like Kilgore College and LeTourneau University. The town is connected by Interstate 20, regional air service, and Class I rail. Housing values in the school's zip code sit below state and national benchmarks, and monthly rent averages in the low range, making the area more affordable than most of Texas and the nation. Unemployment in the region is modest, and sources describe growth driven by industrial expansion and workforce diversification, though specific new residential or development projects were not documented.
Birch El operates as part of Pine Tree ISD. No recent strategic shifts or operational changes in the district were identified in available sources.
The school's results position it above the county median in proficiency, which may reflect its grade band's focus on foundational skills where intensive instruction can yield measurable gains. A parent may want to look into how the school supports students who do not yet meet grade-level standards, particularly in math where the third-grade result shows room for strengthening, and what pathways exist as students move to upper elementary grades outside Birch El's band.
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