Compare Zilker Elementary School with Palm Elementary School

Zilker Elementary School performed excellent to earn a State accountability rating of A (90-100) based on three domains: student achievement, school progress and closing the gaps. Scores are scaled from 0 to 100 to align with letter grades. The school scored 91 in student achievement, 93 in school progress and 96 in closing performance gaps. It scored 94 overall in post-secondary readiness, a broad term that refers to student preparedness to undertake multiple pathways after graduation, or specifically, their preparedness for college education.

On the other hand, Palm Elementary School also performed excellent to earn a State accountability rating of A. The school posted 75 in student achievement, 94 in school progress, 79 in closing performance gaps and 90 overall in post-secondary readiness.

A distinction designation acknowledges districts and campuses for outstanding achievement based on the outcomes of several performance indicators. Distinction designations are awarded for achievement in several areas and are based on performance relative to a group of campuses of similar type, size, grade span, and student demographics.

It is in this area where the two schools differ. Zilker Elementary School’s three out of seven distinctions are in Reading/English Language Arts (ELA), Science and with 25% student progress. Palm Elementary School's four out of seven distinctions are in Reading/English Language Arts (ELA), Mathematics, post-secondary and with 25% student progress.

Based on Racial/Ethnic Groups, Whites or Caucasians comprise the biggest group at Zilker Elementary School. They make up for 62.63% of student population, followed by Hispanics (24.20%), Two or More Races (6.79%), African Americans (2.97%), Asians (2.97%) and Native Americans (0.21%).

At Palm Elementary School, Hispanics make up 91.40% of student population, followed by Whites or Caucasians (3.72%), African Americans (3.15%), Two or More Races (0.86%), Asians (0.57%) and Native Americans (0.29%).

Based on household incomes, the Zilker Elementary School’s economically disadvantaged students is significantly lower at 21.66% compared to 87.39% at Palm Elementary School.

In terms of Limited English Proficiency (LEP), a term used in the United States that refers to a person who is not fluent in the English Language, mainly because it is not their native language, Zilker Elementary School has 20 English Language Learners or ELLS or about 4.25% of student population. Palm Elementary School has significantly more ELLs at 178 or about 51.00% of student population.

Zilker Elementary School’s bilingual students comprise 24.63%, gifted and talented students, 7.43%, while 9.55% are in the special education program. Palm Elementary School bilingual students comprise 51.86%, gifted and talented students, 4.58%, and 12.61% are in the special education program.

34 teachers employed at Zilker Elementary School have been teaching in the school for an average of about 8.3 years with individual teaching experience averaging 9.7 years. The 30 teachers at Palm Elementary School have been serving the school for an average of 8.1 years with individual teaching experience averaging 10 years.

Of its teaching staff, Zilker Elementary School has one teacher only serving the school for over 30 years, has six teachers serving the school for 20-30 years, eight teachers have worked for 11-20 years, five teachers have worked for 6-10 years, while eight teachers have been serving the school for over 1-5 years, including five beginning teachers. Palm Elementary School has one teacher only serving the school for over 30 years, has six teachers serving the school for 20-30 years, nine teachers have worked for 11-20 years, five teachers have worked for 6-10 years, while eight teachers have been serving the school for over 1-5 years, including two beginning teachers.

In both schools, female teachers outnumber the male teachers. At Zilker Elementary School there are 32 female teachers and one male teacher only. Of its teaching staff, five special education teachers are being assisted by nine teachers aides or paraprofessionals. In addition to its teaching staff, the school has two staff members in the school administration department and one more working as school support staff.

At Palm Elementary School there are 24 female teachers and six male teachers. Of its teaching staff, five special education teachers are being assisted by ten teachers aides or paraprofessionals. In addition to its teaching staff, the school has two staff members in the school administration department and two more working as school support staff.