The top reported proficiency rate is 43% in English language arts. The lowest is 18% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Cathelene Thomas El
Cathelene Thomas Elementary serves first through fifth grade in Slaton, a small town in Lubbock County. The school has a student body that is majority Hispanic, with substantial representation of white and Black students as well. About seven in ten students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic circumstances of the families the school serves.
On the 2024-25 STAAR assessments, the school's performance shows academic challenges that a prospective family should understand clearly. In English language arts across grades four and five, proficiency rates ran in the mid-forties to low-forties range. In math, performance was lower, with fourth-grade proficiency near three in ten and fifth-grade proficiency near three in ten as well. Science proficiency in grade five was notably weaker, with fewer than two in ten students reaching proficiency. The school's overall proficiency index across tested subjects places it in the bottom quartile relative to other districts in Lubbock County.
The data reveals particular strength in English language arts for approaching proficiency (roughly three-quarters of students), whereas math approaches proficiency at about six in ten. Few students achieved mastery levels in any subject; masters-level performance was near one in ten across subjects. Science presents a marked area of concern, with only about one in five fifth-graders meeting or exceeding proficiency in 2024-25.
The enrollment is stable at around four hundred forty students distributed fairly evenly across the grade levels. This is a regular public elementary school with no charter or magnet designation. State testing data was available; information about English learner enrollment, special education enrollment rates, discipline, attendance, and staffing was not provided in the available data. A parent may want to look into those details directly with the school to understand the full picture of support structures and services.
The school sits in a community where median home values are below the state benchmark for Texas, and rents are comparatively affordable. The area's unemployment and mortgage rates align with national conditions. This is the kind of elementary setting where families in working and lower-middle-income households predominate, and where academic support needs are substantial.
Slaton ISD approved a major bond in May 2026 that includes construction of a new elementary school to replace Stephen F. Austin Elementary, plus safety, security, and classroom upgrades across the district. The bond did not raise the tax rate. A separate proposition for athletic facility improvements failed. The new elementary campus may take several years to open, so Cathelene Thomas and other existing schools will continue in their current form for some time.
For families seeking a local elementary option in Slaton, Cathelene Thomas is the school in the community. The academic results indicate students are struggling with proficiency, particularly in math and science. Parents should have direct conversations with the school about intervention programs, reading and math support, and how the school works with families on academic progress. The demographic composition and economic profile of the school are stable and representative of the town's makeup.
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