Elementary Schools in Richardson Independent School District (Isd)

The Richardson Independent School District (Isd) oversees 36 elementary schools serving grades PK-6 in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, a district ranked in the top 63% of Texas school systems. This analysis reveals a district of stark contrasts, where some schools rank among the best in the state while others face significant challenges.

The top-performing schools are characterized by exceptionally low poverty rates and outstanding test scores. Prairie Creek Elementary is the district's standout, ranked #37 in Texas with a 99th percentile ranking, a free/reduced lunch rate of just 7.24%, and a student-teacher ratio of 11.9. Similarly, Brentfield Elementary (ranked #79) and Spring Creek Elementary (ranked #108) boast low poverty rates and high proficiency in Reading and Math. In contrast, struggling schools like Skyview Elementary (ranked #4597) and Risd Academy (ranked #4360) have free/reduced lunch rates exceeding 87% and critically low test scores, with some 5th-grade Science proficiency rates falling to single digits. The district's magnet schools show mixed results: Math/Science/Technical Magnet is a top-10% school despite a moderate poverty rate, while Hamilton Park Pacesetter Magnet struggles with a 69.95% poverty rate.

A key finding is that higher per-student spending at high-poverty schools (e.g., $12,732 at Northrich Elementary) does not automatically close the achievement gap, as top performers like Arapaho Classical Magnet spend significantly less ($8,355). The student-teacher ratio also varies widely, from 11.5 at Big Springs Elementary to 18 at Skyview. Across the district, 5th-grade Science scores are a universal weakness, even at top schools like Mohawk Elementary (49.33% proficiency), highlighting a critical area for improvement.