BALLINGER EL

As an intimate primary school in BALLINGER, Texas, BALLINGER EL hosts 377 students from grades pre-K through 5, run under BALLINGER ISD. Enrollment runs roughly 27% below the state mean of about 519.

Across the 5 schools in BALLINGER ISD (775 students total), BALLINGER EL accounts for its share of the district's footprint.

On the student-mix side, BALLINGER EL lists that the largest single group is White at 52%, but no single group is in the majority. Other groups include 43% Hispanic, 3% multiracial. By comparison, Runnels County as a whole is about 64% White, so the school skews meaningfully less White than its surroundings.

On the resource side, BALLINGER EL logs 29 full-time-equivalent teachers, putting the student-to-teacher ratio at about 12.8:1. The state averages around 15.1:1, so this campus is tighter than the state norm typical. Around 73% of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, often used as a Title I proxy. Set against Runnels County (around 61%), the school's rate is noticeably above typical.

With demographic context factored in, BALLINGER EL tracks the demographic baseline. The model predicts 41.9% given the school's FRL share; actual proficiency is 32.0%.

In the surrounding community, Runnels County reports that median household income runs about $62,632, 19% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate sits near 9%. In all, Runnels County runs 12 public schools (combined enrollment of about 1,951 students), of which BALLINGER EL is one.

Nearest neighbor: BALLINGER J H, around 0.8 miles off. Counting just inside five miles, 2 other public schools cluster around BALLINGER EL. Ranking that nearby cluster on reported proficiency puts BALLINGER EL at 6th of 7; the average score across the group is 42.7%.

The school occupies a small-town site.

Looking at the recent track record. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at BALLINGER EL has decreased 13%, going from 433 students in 2018 to 377 in 2025. Hispanic enrollment moved from 49% to 43% across the same window.

In the discussion threads here, recent activity here tends to focus on classroom updates, athletics, and weather closures. Members of the school community can share what they know.