The top reported proficiency rate is 33% in English language arts. The lowest is 0% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Gilbert Willie Sr El
Gilbert Willie Sr. Elementary is a kindergarten through fifth-grade school in Terrell, Texas, serving a student body that is predominantly Hispanic and Black, with a substantial share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. The school sits within Terrell ISD, a district in one of the fastest-growing counties in Texas and currently navigating significant capacity expansion driven by rapid residential development across multiple master-planned communities.
The academic profile here is challenging. On state assessments, the school's proficiency rates in tested grades and subjects cluster in the low range. In English language arts, fifth-grade results are the strongest at this school, while third and fourth grade math proficiency sits notably lower. Grade five science and math results offered only on Spanish-language assessments show no students at proficiency. Across the school as a whole, when looking at the broadest measure of performance that combines all tested subjects and grades, Gilbert Willie Sr. sits below the midpoint among the seven districts in Kaufman County and in the bottom quartile on overall proficiency.
This performance pattern suggests students here face headwinds in foundational academic skills, particularly in math. A parent considering this school may want to look into further detail with the school about the supports available to students who are not meeting grade-level expectations, what the school's approach is to reading and math intervention, and how it tracks student progress throughout the year.
The school does reflect the broader Terrell community. Terrell itself is a small city of mixed character: a walkable historic downtown centered on Moore Avenue with locally rooted shops and civic life, but also surrounded by highway-corridor retail, industrial parks, and rapidly expanding residential development. Housing costs are moderate for the region. Two major master-planned communities, Northspur and Terra Nova, are bringing hundreds of new single-family homes and multifamily units to the area. The district approved a significant bond measure in May 2025 to build a new elementary school, acquire land for a middle school, and fund renovations across existing campuses, so physical expansion and facility updates are in motion.
A notable feature of Terrell ISD is its four-day school week, Monday through Thursday, with Fridays designated for independent learning and campuses closed. This began with the 2023-2024 school year and continues; it is a substantial scheduling change that families need to plan around. The district offers free Friday childcare for younger students through a grant when available. Additionally, beginning in 2024-2025, the district limited school bus transportation to students living a certain distance or more from their zoned school, so families closer in are responsible for getting children to school themselves.
Looking ahead, the district announced three new schools of choice opening in 2026-2027, including a STEM Academy and a College Preparatory Academy at different elementary campuses, which will create specialized academic tracks for families within the district.
Gilbert Willie Sr. Elementary's location on South Rockwall Avenue places it in a Terrell neighborhood undergoing transition as the city grows. The school's enrollment is stable across its grade bands, but its current test results signal that reading and math instruction here need strengthening to bring more students to grade-level competency. For families moving to Terrell or seeking an elementary option in the district, this school's academic trajectory and the specific interventions in place would merit a direct conversation with school leadership before enrolling.
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