Providence Elementary

Providence Elementary in Aubrey, TX, is a PK-5 school in the Denton Independent School District (Isd) serving 678 students, and it has experienced a significant and concerning decline from a high-performing 4-star school in 2019 to a 1-star ranking in the 22nd percentile statewide today. This sustained drop, which began before the pandemic, sets it apart from nearby schools like Union Park Elementary, which has improved to the 65th percentile, and Oak Point Elementary, which has remained consistently in the 56th-67th percentile range over the same period.

A critical weakness is math proficiency, with recent scores like 28.8% in 5th grade—12 points below the district and nearly 19 points below the state average. The school spends $10,802 per student, higher than most comparable schools, yet outcomes lag behind; for instance, Union Park Elementary spends significantly less ($8,690) but achieves far better results. The closest school, James A Monaco in Aubrey Independent School District (Isd), just 0.94 miles away, serves a population with a lower rate of economic disadvantage (36% vs. 54%) and consistently outperforms Providence, ranking in the 35th percentile.

There are some positive signs in the most recent data: the school’s overall rank improved slightly from the 16th to the 22nd percentile, and certain student groups showed notable gains, such as African American students jumping from the 21st to the 56th percentile and Special Education students improving from the 6th to the 47th percentile. However, the school continues to struggle with serving its Hispanic and economically disadvantaged students, who remain in the lowest percentiles. To return to its former high performance, Providence must address these systemic challenges, particularly in math, and ensure its higher spending translates into better outcomes for all students.