Summary
Steadham Elementary in Rowlett, TX, is a PK-5 school serving 490 students in the Garland Independent School District (Isd), and it has recently made a dramatic turnaround, jumping from the 32nd percentile to the 57th percentile in the 2025-2026 school year—a 25-point improvement that sets it apart from nearby schools.
This school is particularly effective with its largest student groups, ranking in the 83rd percentile for Hispanic students and the 75th percentile for low-income students, which is significantly higher than its overall rank. In contrast, nearby schools like Keeley Elementary (96th percentile) have lower poverty rates, while Nita Pearson Elementary (38th percentile) has a similar poverty rate but much lower performance. Steadham’s success with a high-poverty population (72.24% free/reduced lunch) suggests effective internal strategies, not just demographic changes. A standout strength is 5th-grade math, where 57.33% of students met proficiency—above both the state average (47.38%) and the district average (53.82%). However, reading scores are more uneven, with 4th-grade reading (40%) falling below the state average (53.04%), indicating a key area for growth.
One fascinating finding is the school’s bilingual program: students taking the Spanish-language STAAR reading test significantly outperformed state averages in both 4th and 5th grades (50% and 54.55% proficient, respectively, vs. state averages of 37.14% and 34.82%). This suggests the program effectively builds literacy in students’ native language. Additionally, the current 5th-grade cohort showed remarkable growth—from low scores in 3rd grade (20.69% reading, 21.54% math) to strong performance two years later (61.19% reading, 57.33% math)—highlighting the school’s ability to accelerate learning. For parents, Steadham offers a promising option with a strong math program, a standout bilingual program, and a clear upward trajectory, though reading support, especially for 4th graders, remains a focus.
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