DAWSON EL

DAWSON EL is an one-room-style elementary-level community in AUSTIN, Texas, part of AUSTIN ISD. The school educates 196 students in grades pre-K through 5. Compared to the state average of about 519 students per school, that is 62% smaller than typical.

Within AUSTIN ISD, which oversees 123 schools and 72,272 students, DAWSON EL is one campus in the system.

Demographically, DAWSON EL reports that Hispanic students make up the majority at 73%; the rest consists of 11% White, 8% Black, 4% Asian, 3% multiracial. That is noticeably more Hispanic than the county at large, where the share is closer to 33%.

In terms of school funding signals, The school currently runs with 22 full-time-equivalent teachers, for a student-teacher ratio near 8.9:1. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 15.1:1, putting DAWSON EL tighter than the state norm the norm. Around 83% of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, a number frequently used as a low-income enrollment indicator. By comparison, Travis County runs at roughly 54%, so the school's eligibility rate is somewhat above the surrounding baseline.

After controlling for student poverty, DAWSON EL falls in the UNDERPERFORMING tier of the BeatsExpectations residual. Given its student profile, a typical campus would land near 37.6%; this one comes in at 16.1%, -21.5 points off the demographic line.

In the surrounding community, community-level numbers for Travis County indicate median household income runs about $99,611, 57% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate sits near 7%. Across Travis County's 333 public schools (combined enrollment of about 191,706 students), DAWSON EL is one campus in the mix.

TRAVIS CO J J An E P is the nearest neighboring public school, about 0.6 miles from this campus. Within five miles, there are 8 other public schools.

The school occupies an urban site.

Looking at the recent track record. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at DAWSON EL has ticked down 44%, going from 352 students in 2018 to 196 in 2025. Class-load math has pulled in: from 12.7:1 in 2018 to 8.9:1 in 2025.

On this page, the page collects discussion, questions, and updates around science fair prep, picture-day reminders, and bus-route questions. Posting is open to anyone connected to the school.