The top reported proficiency rate is 55% in English language arts. The lowest is 43% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Saint Jo El
Saint Jo Elementary serves grades PK through 6 in a small rural town in Montague County along the northern Texas border. The school sits within the town itself, a short distance from the downtown square where City Hall, churches, and local civic life cluster. Saint Jo is a historic community of about [estimate] residents, founded in the 1850s, with an economy rooted in farming and ranching. The area is experiencing renewed housing interest as a North Texas Hill Country getaway, with new residential development and rising property values. Most residents own their homes; housing affordability remains solid relative to state and national benchmarks.
The school serves a total enrollment across its grade band, with a student body that is predominantly white, with smaller shares of Hispanic and Native American students. About two-fifths of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Specific data on English learners and students with disabilities was not provided, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about those populations and support services.
On the most recent state assessments, proficiency varies considerably by grade and subject. In English language arts, fourth graders performed strongest, with about two-thirds meeting or exceeding state standards. Sixth graders also performed well in ELA, with about two-thirds proficient. Third graders in ELA were at about half proficient, and fifth graders fell below that mark. In mathematics, sixth graders showed the most strength at about half proficient; third, fourth, and fifth graders clustered in a narrower band around four in ten meeting standards. Science, tested in fifth grade, showed about four in ten students proficient. Across all subjects and grades, the school's overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile among the seven districts in Montague County, a meaningful position among its immediate peer set.
When proficiency is broken down by performance level across all tested subjects and grades, about four in five students reached at least the "approaches" level, indicating some grasp of material. About half of students reached the "meets" level, suggesting solid grade-level work. About one in five achieved "master" level, the highest category. This profile shows that most students are making progress on state standards, though a sizable share fall short of meeting grade-level expectations in particular subjects.
Saint Jo ISD recently established a dual-credit partnership with North Central Texas College through 2027, offering eligible high school students the chance to earn college credit while still enrolled. The district also broke ground in early 2026 on a new all-weather track facility, replacing grass and basic facilities. These are additions that reflect the district's effort to expand academic and athletic pathways for families in a small, rural setting.
The elementary school itself operates in a close-knit, small-town environment where families and the school sit within the broader community rather than isolated on a distant campus. This setting offers a traditional school and town integration that some families value; others may prefer the larger programming, anonymity, or specialized services that larger schools or districts can offer. A parent considering this school should understand that it is the product of a small rural district with limited scale, likely to have narrower elective offerings and fewer specialized supports than larger suburban or urban schools, though the community anchoring and close family-school ties can be a strength in itself.
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