Saigling Elementary

Saigling Elementary is a K-5 school in Plano, TX, serving 309 students within the highly-rated Plano Independent School District (Isd). While the school has historically been a strong performer, earning top ratings for years, the most recent data shows a significant drop in its overall state ranking to the 70th percentile—its lowest point in a decade. This decline is the central story for the school, especially when compared to nearby schools like Shepard Elementary and Hightower Elementary, which have maintained or improved their rankings. The school’s rank fell from the 90th percentile in 2023-2024 to the 70th percentile in 2025-2026, a 20-percentile-point drop that is the most significant negative trend among its immediate peers.

One of the most striking findings is a large gender achievement gap: female students rank in the 79th percentile, while male students rank in the 53rd percentile—a 26-point disparity that is the largest among nearby schools. Additionally, performance for English Language Learner (ELL) and low socio-economic status students has collapsed, with these groups now ranking in the bottom 1% and bottom 16%, respectively. This is a dramatic reversal from the previous year, when these groups were performing in the 79th and 68th percentiles. The school also has a very favorable student-teacher ratio of 10.4:1, lower than most nearby schools like Wells Elementary (12.8:1), making the recent performance decline puzzling.

Despite the downturn, Saigling has a consistent strength in 5th-grade Science, where it has outperformed district and state averages for several years. The school’s closest neighbor, Wells Elementary, experienced a similar but less dramatic decline, suggesting the challenges at Saigling may be more acute. The widespread drop across almost all metrics in the 2025-2026 school year points to a school-wide event or challenge rather than an issue isolated to one grade or subject. This volatility is a key risk factor for families to consider.