Barron Elementary

Barron Elementary is a public school in Plano, TX, serving 343 students from Pre-K through 5th grade as part of the Plano Independent School District (Isd). While the district itself is highly rated, Barron has faced significant academic challenges, consistently ranking in the bottom 20th-44th percentile of Texas elementary schools over the past decade, with its most recent ranking placing it in the 19th percentile. The school’s most defining characteristic is its high rate of economic disadvantage, with over 81% of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch—a rate dramatically higher than nearby schools like Hickey Elementary (36.62%) and McCall Elementary (37.14%).

Despite higher per-student spending ($15,032) and a lower student-teacher ratio (9.2:1) compared to higher-performing neighbors, Barron’s STAAR English test scores remain well below district and state averages. For example, in 4th grade reading, only 32.56% of Barron students met proficiency, compared to 61.72% district-wide. However, the school shows a unique strength: it is exceptionally effective with its Gifted and Talented (GT) students, ranking in the 94th percentile statewide. In contrast, it struggles with other subgroups, including English Language Learners and students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, who rank in the single digits statewide.

Interestingly, Barron’s performance on STAAR Spanish exams is often higher than the district average, suggesting that instruction in Spanish may be more effective for its large population of English Language Learners. Barron is not alone in these challenges; it is part of a cluster of schools in eastern Plano, including Memorial Elementary and Meadows Elementary, that face similar socioeconomic and academic hurdles. This indicates that the issues are systemic and tied to neighborhood demographics, not unique to Barron’s administration.