The top reported proficiency rate is 73% in Math. The lowest is 67% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Round Top-carmine El
Round Top-Carmine Elementary is a small rural school serving prekindergarten through sixth grade in the tiny town of Round Top, a one-square-mile arts and antiques destination halfway between Austin and Houston. The school sits on its own campus on North Washington Street, physically separate from the town square's historic shops and galleries. It enrolls a small group of students, with enrollment distributed fairly evenly across grades.
The student body is predominantly white, with a Hispanic plurality making up a meaningful portion of the school, and a small number of Black and multiracial students. About two in five students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating modest economic need in the school community. Data on special education and English learner enrollment was not available.
On the most recent state assessments, the school shows uneven proficiency across grade levels and subjects. In math, third grade sits notably below proficiency, while fourth grade performs well and sixth grade achieves universal proficiency. Fifth grade data is limited because only one student took the assessment in that cohort. In English language arts, fourth grade proficiency is below the school median, while sixth grade is strong. Fifth grade proficiency in ELA sits in the middle range. Science data is similarly sparse due to small tested cohorts. Overall, across all tested subjects and grades, the school sits above the midpoint for proficiency when compared to other districts in Fayette County. The school reports that a majority of students are meeting or exceeding grade-level standards across all tested subjects when all performance levels are included.
The volatility in results by grade reflects the reality of very small tested groups, where a handful of students materially shape the picture. A parent may want to look into further with the school how it addresses the notably lower performance in third grade math and fourth grade reading, and whether the jump in sixth grade proficiency represents grade-level strength or reflects different student cohort composition across years.
The district recently completed a tax ratification election in November to increase the local property tax rate for maintenance and operations. Voters approved the measure, allowing the district to retain additional revenue rather than send it to the state. The immediate priorities are replacing aging air conditioning units at both the elementary and high school campuses, addressing septic system capacity at the elementary campus, and supporting teacher and staff compensation. These facility needs are concrete signals of deferred maintenance across the district's infrastructure.
Housing values in the Round Top area are markedly high for rural Texas, reflecting the town's appeal as an arts, antiques and dining destination. The market has grown rapidly, with boutique hotels and new hospitality ventures opening to serve year-round visitors and the twice-yearly antiques fair. The elementary school's student population reflects this mix of long-term rural residents and families drawn to the area by its cultural character and real estate market.
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