Couch Collegiate Prep Elementary

Couch Collegiate Prep Elementary is a PK-5 school in the Garland Independent School District (Isd) serving 524 students in Garland, TX, where 78% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. The school shows clear signs of progress, particularly with its English Language Learner (ELL) students, who ranked in the 73rd percentile statewide—a dramatic turnaround from the previous year and a standout achievement compared to nearby schools like Shugart Elementary and Club Hill Stem Elementary, which do not show similar high ELL rankings.

One of the most encouraging trends is the strong year-over-year growth in 5th grade. Reading proficiency jumped from 32.84% to 56.25%, and math proficiency rose from 28.38% to 42.86% between the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school years. This growth is not seen in the 3rd or 4th grades, suggesting that upper-grade instruction is becoming more effective. Additionally, the school's bilingual program appears to be a major asset—students who take the STAAR test in Spanish often perform as well as or better than their peers who test in English, especially in reading. However, the school faces challenges, including a notable gender gap where male students outperform female students, and a critical weakness in 5th grade science, where only 22.39% of students were proficient.

Compared to its closest neighbor, Shugart Elementary, which has a similar demographic profile, Couch outperforms in 5th grade reading (56.25% vs. 43.9%) and dramatically in science (22.39% vs. 5.08%). While nearby schools like Classical Center At Vial Elementary and Herfurth Elementary achieve 5-star ratings with lower rates of economic disadvantage, Couch's focused progress with ELL students and its upward trajectory in 5th grade are powerful indicators of effective, targeted instruction. The school's primary areas for growth include closing the gender gap, improving 4th-grade outcomes, and strengthening its science curriculum.