Arapaho Classical Magnet

Arapaho Classical Magnet is a K-6 elementary school in the Richardson Independent School District (Isd) serving 615 students, and it consistently ranks among the top elementary schools in Texas, currently in the 94th percentile statewide.

Arapaho Classical Magnet stands out for its exceptional academic performance, particularly for its Asian students, who ranked in the 100th percentile statewide in the most recent school year. The school also provides elite support for its Special Education program, which ranked in the 98th percentile. This high performance is achieved with a per-student spending of $8,355, which is significantly lower than nearby schools like Carolyn G Bukhair Elementary ($12,379) and Dover Elementary ($11,130), suggesting effective resource allocation and a strong school culture. The school is part of a cluster of top-tier schools in the northern part of the district, including Mohawk Elementary (97th percentile) and Spring Creek Elementary (98th percentile), creating a highly desirable educational corridor. However, school quality varies dramatically over short distances, with Dover Elementary ranking in the 5th percentile just 1.5 miles away.

While the school's overall performance remains elite, there are areas of concern. The 2025-2026 school year saw a significant drop in performance for some subgroups, including Hispanic students (from 96th to 86th percentile), low socio-economic status students (from 93rd to 67th percentile), and English Language Learner students (from 75th to 31st percentile). Additionally, 6th-grade math proficiency (65.52%) is notably lower than 4th-grade (78.02%) and 5th-grade (73.42%), a pattern consistent over the last three years. These trends suggest that while the school excels for many, its support systems for vulnerable populations may be inconsistent, and the transition to middle school math may present a challenge.