Mathews Elementary

Mathews Elementary in Plano, TX, serves 460 students in grades PK-5 within the highly-rated Plano Independent School District (Isd), and is located in a relatively affluent community where only about 12% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

Mathews has historically been a top-tier school, consistently earning a 5-star rating for nearly a decade, but recent data shows a significant shift. The school has dropped to a 4-star rating and the 88th percentile statewide, its lowest position in years. This decline is especially notable when compared to nearby schools like Wyatt Elementary, Skaggs Elementary, and Beverly Elementary, which all remain in the 98th-99th percentile. The drop is most pronounced in 3rd-grade math, where proficiency fell to 50%—a 29-percentage-point decline from the previous year and well below the district average. Performance has also declined for several student groups, including English Language Learners and those from low socio-economic backgrounds, suggesting the school's recent challenges are impacting specific populations more than others.

Despite these struggles, Mathews has clear strengths to build on. The school consistently excels in 5th grade, with reading and math proficiency rates above 85%, far exceeding district and state averages. Science is a major competitive advantage: 5th-grade science proficiency was 79.1%, more than double the state average and higher than peers like Gulledge Elementary and Wyatt. Interestingly, the closest neighbor, Bethany Elementary (0.74 miles away), has shown more stability and even improvement in its ranking, suggesting Mathews' issues may be specific to the school rather than the neighborhood. With targeted support in early elementary math and for its diverse student body, Mathews has a strong foundation to return to its former 5-star status.