The top reported proficiency rate is 33% in English language arts. The lowest is 22% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Bonham El
Bonham Elementary is a public school serving kindergarten through fifth grade in San Angelo, with an enrollment spanning all six of those grades in roughly equal proportions. The school sits on Southland Drive in the city's south side.
The student body is racially balanced, with roughly half Hispanic and half white students, a small Asian enrollment, and very few Black or American Indian students. About two-fifths of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, placing the school in a moderate economic profile for the area.
On state testing in 2024-25, the school's performance is a soft spot. For the grade four and five cohorts where full data are available, proficiency rates in English language arts and math run in the low range. Fourth graders showed proficiency in language arts in a minority of cases and math proficiency in roughly the same low proportion. Fifth grade science proficiency was similarly low. The school's overall proficiency index across tested grades and subjects places it in the bottom quartile among districts in Tom Green County. A parent may want to look into this further with the school to understand the specific instructional needs and support strategies being deployed.
It is worth noting that third and fifth grade results show testing in Spanish-language versions of the state assessment with very small numbers of test-takers, likely reflecting a small cohort in bilingual programming. This accounts for data gaps in those grades.
San Angelo ISD, the district housing Bonham, has undergone significant recent changes that will shape your experience. In November 2024, voters approved funding for teacher salary increases and placed an armed officer at every school campus. In May 2025, voters passed a major bond for facility improvements, including a new middle school, renovations at two high schools, and district-wide upgrades. The estimated property tax impact depends on home value and age, with no increase for homeowners over 65 with a frozen exemption. This is a lasting change affecting household budgets. Additionally, in March 2025 the board adopted the Bluebonnet Learning curriculum for K-5 reading and K-8 math, effective fall 2025, a decision that drew public debate over religious content and scripted teaching. Separately, the district is consolidating elementary schools under a long-term plan; San Jacinto Elementary closed after 2024-25, and two more closures are planned by 2027 as enrollment has declined over decades. These shifts mean Bonham's grade configuration and peer schools may change, and families should check with the district on any consolidation plans affecting this school.
San Angelo itself is a mixed-use West Texas city with a historic downtown centered on the Concho River Walk, which serves as a civic and recreational hub. Major employers include Goodfellow Air Force Base, Shannon Medical Center, the school district, and Angelo State University. Housing is predominantly owner-occupied; current median home values are moderate for Texas, and rental costs are relatively affordable. The job market spans military, healthcare, education, and manufacturing. Growth is occurring through new single-family subdivisions on the city's edges and adaptive reuse downtown, though the housing market has cooled in recent months.
Bonham is a regular public elementary school without a magnet or charter designation. The school appears to operate within the district's broader context of instructional change and facilities evolution.
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