Richardson Independent School District (Isd)

The Richardson Independent School District (Isd) serves 50 schools in the Dallas metropolitan area, including 36 elementary, 8 middle, and 4 high schools, plus 2 alternative schools, and is ranked in the 63rd percentile in Texas with a 3-star rating.

For parents, the district presents a clear divide in performance. The top-performing high schools are Pearce High School and Richardson High School, both earning 3-star ratings and outperforming district averages in core subjects like Biology and U.S. History. At the middle school level, Lake Highlands Middle stands out with a remarkable jump to the 85th percentile, while Richardson North J H also excels. Elementary schools are where the district shines brightest, with several achieving 5-star ratings and ranking in the top 5% of Texas schools, including Prairie Creek Elementary (99th percentile), Brentfield Elementary (98th), Spring Creek Elementary (98th), Mohawk Elementary (97th), and Lake Highlands Elementary (97th). In contrast, schools like Skyview Elementary, Risd Academy, Audelia Creek Elementary, Dover Elementary, Aikin Elementary, and Stults Road Elementary face significant challenges, ranking in the bottom 5% of Texas elementary schools.

A key takeaway is that per-student spending does not guarantee success; the highest-spending schools, such as Carolyn G Bukhair Elementary and Hamilton Park Pacesetter Magnet, are among the lowest-performing. Additionally, Algebra I proficiency is a district-wide weakness, with all high schools scoring far below the state average, suggesting a need for stronger middle school math foundations. However, top elementary schools like Math/Science/Technical Magnet and Canyon Creek Elementary excel in 5th-grade Science, with rates more than double the state average. The district's graduation rate is 90%, with Richardson High School leading at 93.1%.