The top reported proficiency rate is 58% in English language arts. The lowest is 55% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Bushland El
Bushland Elementary serves prekindergarten through second grade in Amarillo, the county seat of Potter County in the Texas Panhandle. The school sits in a region experiencing sustained rapid growth, with the district having just completed construction of a new elementary building (opening for the 2024-2025 year) to address enrollment expansion driven by families relocating to the area. The school building itself is new, a result of a bond voters approved in 2021 to expand facilities as the district's population surged.
The student body reflects the broader character of this part of Amarillo: a majority white student population, with a meaningful Hispanic minority, and a small percentage of students from other backgrounds. About one-sixth of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, suggesting a mix of lower-income and moderate-to-higher-income families in the attendance area. The enrollment is small relative to typical elementary buildings, with roughly similar numbers of students across the three grade levels, which can mean tighter class sizes and closer teacher-student relationships.
Testing data comes only for third and fourth grades, since the school serves through second grade; state assessment results come from students in those grades during the 2022-2023 school year. In both English language arts and math, Bushland Elementary's third and fourth graders showed proficiency rates in the range of roughly one-half to three-fifths of tested students meeting grade-level standards. Fourth-grade performance was somewhat stronger in both subjects than third-grade performance. When proficiency rates across tested subjects and grades are averaged, the school sits in the top quartile among the four districts in Potter County, a meaningful position. A parent may want to look into whether these results have shifted in more recent school years, and what specific reading and math supports the school offers to students still building foundational skills.
The housing market around Bushland reflects broader Amarillo trends. Home values are above regional baseline but modest compared to many U.S. markets, and rental costs are relatively accessible against local incomes, making the area an affordable option for families priced out of higher-cost regions. The community is car-oriented, with Amarillo's commercial and civic core downtown and most daily neighborhood services dispersed across the city. The economic base spans healthcare, manufacturing (including food processing and defense), energy, and aerospace, with Baptist St. Anthony's Health Care System as the dominant employer.
Bushland is a young, growing school in an expanding suburban area, serving families drawn by new housing, relatively affordable entry costs, and proximity to a regional job market. The building itself is modern, and the cohort of students is demographically mixed with room for teachers to know students well. Academic performance is respectable against county peers, though a parent would benefit from understanding the school's approach to early literacy and numeracy given the foundational importance of those years.
See more original research from School Decision →