Beta You're viewing our redesigned school page. Prefer the classic layout?

Lake Highlands Middle

Q: Is Lake Highlands Middle a good school?

Lake Highlands Middle ranks 342 nd of 2335 Texas middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

342^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,335 Texas Middle Schools

Better than 85% of Texas middle schools

Summary

Lake Highlands Middle in Dallas, TX, is a large, high-performing school in the Richardson Independent School District (Isd) serving 1,114 students in grades 6-8, and it has rapidly climbed from a 3-star to a 4-star rating, now ranking in the 85th percentile statewide. This makes it the top-performing middle school in its area, far outpacing nearby schools like Jackson Technology Center (72nd percentile) and leaving others like Liberty J H and Forest Meadow Middle in the dust, with most ranking below the 46th percentile. The school consistently posts proficiency rates well above district and state averages—for example, 70% of 6th graders are proficient in reading compared to 53.5% statewide—and it achieves these results with lower per-student spending ($9,915) than many lower-performing neighbors, suggesting highly effective leadership and instruction.

Lake Highlands Middle stands out for its remarkable turnaround, especially for students receiving special education services, who jumped from the 29th to the 86th percentile in just two years. However, the school also reveals a significant achievement gap: while it excels with some student groups, it struggles with others, such as those from low socio-economic backgrounds (27th percentile) and English language learners (19th percentile). This means the school is excellent for many but is still working to ensure all students thrive equally. In contrast, nearby schools like Bussey Middle and Sam Houston Middle show a different pattern: they have very low overall proficiency but exceptionally high Algebra I scores, indicating they may only push a select few advanced students into higher-level math while most students fall behind.

For families in the area, Lake Highlands Middle is a clear standout, offering a consistently strong education across subjects and grade levels that is unmatched by its neighbors. With a lower percentage of economically disadvantaged students (40.1%) compared to nearby schools where rates exceed 70%, the school benefits from a more balanced student body, but its rapid improvement and high test scores make it a highly desirable option for families who can access it. If you're looking for a school that has shown it can deliver results and is on an upward trajectory, Lake Highlands Middle is a top choice in the region.

1,114

Students ?

13.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,264

Per pupil spending ?

40.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

10301 Walnut Hill Ln
Dallas, TX 75238-4107

(469) 593-1600

District: Richardson Independent School District (Isd)

Students who attend Lake Highlands Middle usually attend:

High:

Lake Highlands High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

43.4%

Hispanic:

29.0%

African American:

19.1%

See top rated Texas middle schools

Compare Lake Highlands Middle to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 54th percentile in 2016 → 85th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Texas average (61% vs 48% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 15% of Texas middle schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 31 percentile points since 2016

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school61%

District avg50%

Texas avg48%

342^nd of 2,335

Texas public middle schools ?

Top 15%▲ up 32 pts since 2016

From top 46% (2016) to top 15% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Texas Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 8Middle Schools in the Richardson Independent School District (Isd)

356^th of 951Richardson Independent School District (Isd) among Texas districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	78.8	342 of 2335	85.4%	★★★★☆
2025	71.2	507 of 2344	78.4%	★★★★☆
2024	53.3	971 of 2372	59.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	57.8	850 of 2330	63.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	54.7	889 of 2254	60.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	62.8	669 of 2252	70.3%	★★★★☆
2019	60.8	685 of 2193	68.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	56.1	745 of 2080	64.2%	★★★☆☆
2017	61.5	621 of 2027	69.4%	★★★☆☆
2016	56.5	920 of 1987	53.7%	★★★☆☆
2015	52.1	1027 of 2043	49.7%	★★☆☆☆
2014	53.6	961 of 1987	51.6%	★★★☆☆
2013	47.5	1133 of 1973	42.6%	★★☆☆☆
2012	50.1	1029 of 1951	47.3%	★★☆☆☆
2011	58.6	831 of 1895	56.1%	★★★☆☆
2010	70.0	402 of 1803	77.7%	★★★★☆
2009	69.7	426 of 1763	75.8%	★★★★☆
2008	63.7	610 of 1718	64.5%	★★★☆☆
2007	58.0	762 of 1684	54.8%	★★★☆☆
2006	44.9	1002 of 1585	36.8%	★★☆☆☆
2005	46.2	964 of 1582	39.1%	★★☆☆☆
2004	39.4	1133 of 1573	28.0%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	38.5	780 of 1295	39.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	38.5	611 of 997	38.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	33.3	887 of 1280	30.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	37.9	762 of 1273	40.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	36.4	791 of 1251	36.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	38.4	725 of 1213	40.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	43.2	620 of 1193	48.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	32.7	795 of 1167	31.9%	★★☆☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	17.2	578 of 642	10.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	9.2	482 of 505	4.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	1.0	614 of 617	0.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	1.9	607 of 616	1.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	3.3	594 of 606	2.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	5.3	577 of 589	2.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	5.1	577 of 594	2.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	6.0	569 of 587	3.1%	☆☆☆☆☆

At Risk

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2022	27.5	1789 of 2182	18.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	39.9	1215 of 2118	42.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	40.5	1186 of 2058	42.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	41.4	1128 of 2008	43.8%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	28.7	1128 of 1390	18.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	20.4	1279 of 1428	10.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	24.9	1474 of 1770	16.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	28.1	1350 of 1720	21.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	25.8	1393 of 1643	15.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	30.6	1218 of 1592	23.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	36.0	944 of 1445	34.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	43.0	667 of 1376	51.5%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	77.4	340 of 2240	84.8%	★★★★☆
2025	73.8	322 of 1825	82.4%	★★★★☆
2024	59.0	744 of 2242	66.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	59.3	777 of 2241	65.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	59.2	746 of 2221	66.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	62.0	667 of 2151	69.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	61.6	651 of 2047	68.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	50.4	922 of 2008	54.1%	★★★☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	64.5	564 of 1497	62.3%	★★★☆☆
2025	67.9	359 of 1230	70.8%	★★★★☆
2023	67.6	493 of 1481	66.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	62.9	598 of 1488	59.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	76.5	283 of 1501	81.1%	★★★★☆
2019	65.5	537 of 1446	62.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	66.2	502 of 1430	64.9%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	42.7	1187 of 2141	44.6%	★★☆☆☆
2025	43.7	938 of 1731	45.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	34.9	1440 of 2119	32.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	31.2	1564 of 2116	26.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	30.1	1576 of 2077	24.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	36.4	1305 of 2043	36.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	35.2	1307 of 1935	32.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	44.1	999 of 1895	47.3%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	32.6	1648 of 2253	26.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	28.8	1430 of 1820	21.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	23.5	1910 of 2235	14.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	31.3	1675 of 2251	25.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	26.4	1831 of 2220	17.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	35.8	1450 of 2172	33.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	38.5	1338 of 2073	35.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	36.8	1371 of 2039	32.8%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	78.9	332 of 2253	85.3%	★★★★☆
2025	69.1	406 of 1818	77.7%	★★★★☆
2024	52.2	918 of 2246	59.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	54.9	897 of 2245	60.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	47.2	1083 of 2228	51.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	61.8	667 of 2168	69.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	56.3	750 of 2069	63.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	58.5	674 of 2030	66.8%	★★★☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	73.4	163 of 806	79.8%	★★★★☆
2025	81.3	78 of 676	88.5%	★★★★☆
2024	38.2	513 of 818	37.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	50.3	384 of 817	53.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	30.8	617 of 813	24.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	49.2	344 of 743	53.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	39.0	468 of 753	37.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	49.5	352 of 720	51.1%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	70.7	268 of 1956	86.3%	★★★★☆
2025	59.2	436 of 1568	72.2%	★★★★☆
2024	33.4	1342 of 1891	29.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	41.4	964 of 1815	46.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	40.3	964 of 1757	45.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	56.2	474 of 1712	72.3%	★★★★☆
2019	47.9	653 of 1626	59.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	37.0	973 of 1597	39.1%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	93.7	26 of 1731	98.5%	★★★★★
2025	90.3	42 of 1439	97.1%	★★★★★
2024	79.4	210 of 1733	87.9%	★★★★☆
2023	88.4	88 of 1749	95.0%	★★★★★
2022	82.2	178 of 1723	89.7%	★★★★☆
2021	86.2	108 of 1700	93.6%	★★★★★
2019	91.7	64 of 1684	96.2%	★★★★★
2018	88.5	106 of 1673	93.7%	★★★★★

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

White (2026)98th percentile+13 vs school

Special Education (2026)86th percentile~ school

Male (2026)85th percentile~ school

Female (2026)85th percentile~ school

Multi-racial (2026)80th percentile-6 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2026)62nd percentile-23 vs school

Hispanic (2026)45th percentile-41 vs school

African American (2026)40th percentile-46 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)27th percentile-59 vs school

English Language Learner (2026)19th percentile-67 vs school

At Risk (2022)18th percentile-43 vs school

Asian (2026)10th percentile-75 vs school

By subject vs Texas (2025-2026) ?

Reading69%+13 vs state

Mathematics59%+16 vs state

Algebra I59%+5 vs state

Social Studies42%+10 vs state

★

No ratings yet

Be the first to rate Lake Highlands Middle and help other families decide.

Rate Lake Highlands Middle

Have first-hand experience? A quick rating - and a sentence or two about what stands out (teachers, academics, safety, communication) - helps other families know what to expect.

Takes about a minute. We email you a link to verify your review - your address is never shown publicly.

Tap a star to rate

Reviews

No written reviews yet. If you know this school, be the first to share what stands out.

Schools Near Lake Highlands Middle

Load more schools when map is moved

Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				STAAR EOC Algebra I (2026)	STAAR Reading (2026)			STAAR Mathematics (2026)		STAAR Social Studies (2026)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	STAAR EOC Algebra I End of Course	STAAR Reading 6th Grade	STAAR Reading 7th Grade	STAAR Reading 8th Grade	STAAR Mathematics 6th Grade	STAAR Mathematics 8th Grade	STAAR Social Studies 8th Grade	Total
Lake Highlands Middle	Public	6-8	10301 Walnut Hill Ln	Dallas	75238	Dallas County	Richardson Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(469) 593-1600	1,114	84	13.2	40.1%	484 (43.4%)	213 (19.1%)	323 (29.0%)	57 (5.1%)	4 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (3.0%)	78.8	342^nd of 2335 public middle schools	85.4%		71.2	507^th of 2344 public middle schools	78.4%	165	58.9	70.0	64.6	72.0	59.9	58.4	41.6	$13,264
Robert T Hill Middle	Public	6-8	505 Easton Rd	Dallas	75218	Dallas County	Dallas Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(972) 502-5700	762	52	14.7	92.4%	65 (8.5%)	60 (7.9%)	613 (80.4%)	17 (2.2%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (0.7%)	43.5	1257^th of 2335 public middle schools	46.2%		40.9	1376^th of 2344 public middle schools	41.3%	119	74.8		51.5	56.0		38.4	24.9	$9,824
Forest Meadow Middle	Public	6-8	9373 Whitehurst Dr	Dallas	75243	Dallas County	Richardson Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(469) 593-1500	1,211	88	13.7	70.0%	242 (20.0%)	405 (33.4%)	399 (32.9%)	133 (11.0%)	10 (0.8%)	1 (0.1%)	21 (1.7%)	33.5	1613^th of 2335 public middle schools	30.9%		26.4	1851^st of 2344 public middle schools	21.0%	238	36.2	38.4	42.0	45.8	36.0	29.6	30.4	$14,424
Sam Houston Middle	Public	6-8	2232 Sussex Dr	Garland	75041	Dallas County	Garland Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(972) 926-2640	775	58	13.3	89.8%	28 (3.6%)	39 (5.0%)	677 (87.4%)	15 (1.9%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (1.7%)	18.6	2080^th of 2335 public middle schools	10.9%		20.6	2009^th of 2344 public middle schools	14.3%	71	92.3	31.7	35.6	33.1	22.1	32.8	9.6	$11,661
Liberty J H	Public	7-8	10330 Lawler Rd	Dallas	75243	Dallas County	Richardson Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(469) 593-7888	549	50	10.9	73.8%	50 (9.1%)	160 (29.1%)	222 (40.4%)	104 (18.9%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (2.2%)	14.7	2164^th of 2335 public middle schools	7.3%		21	1999^th of 2344 public middle schools	14.7%	165	24.5		34.4	37.1		20.5	10.6	$13,233
Sam Tasby Middle	Public	6-8	7001 Fair Oaks Ave	Dallas	75231	Dallas County	Dallas Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(972) 502-1900	752	44	17.0	99.2%	26 (3.5%)	131 (17.4%)	477 (63.4%)	95 (12.6%)	10 (1.3%)	1 (0.1%)	12 (1.6%)	23.3	1961^st of 2335 public middle schools	16.0%		23.8	1917^th of 2344 public middle schools	18.2%	44	69.8	30.1	28.5	43.2	33.2	25.0	24.9	$10,949
Jackson Technology Center	Public, Magnet	6-8	1310 Bobbie Ln	Garland	75042	Dallas County	Garland Independent School District (Isd)	No	Yes	(n/a)	Yes	(972) 494-8362	1,157	72	15.9	71.8%	137 (11.8%)	145 (12.5%)	650 (56.2%)	185 (16.0%)	5 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	34 (2.9%)	64.2	649^th of 2335 public middle schools	72.2%		68.9	563^rd of 2344 public middle schools	76.0%	86	96.3	62.8	71.0	66.2	42.4	37.5	42.4	$8,796
W H Gaston Middle	Public	6-8	9565 Mercer Dr	Dallas	75228	Dallas County	Dallas Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(972) 502-5400	757	49	15.4	94.7%	22 (2.9%)	94 (12.4%)	626 (82.7%)	4 (0.5%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (1.1%)	39.2	1420^th of 2335 public middle schools	39.2%		27.1	1835^th of 2344 public middle schools	21.7%	415	77.7		48.3	52.7		33.0	28.3	$10,772
Benjamin Franklin International Exploratory Academy	Public	6-8	6920 Meadow Rd	Dallas	75230	Dallas County	Dallas Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(972) 502-7100	808	49	16.3	90.8%	46 (5.7%)	142 (17.6%)	598 (74.0%)	3 (0.4%)	6 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (1.6%)	35.2	1557^th of 2335 public middle schools	33.3%		28.1	1793^rd of 2344 public middle schools	23.5%	236	62.7	50.5	43.1	52.2	32.1	36.9	14.0	$10,152
O'Banion Middle	Public	6-8	700 Birchwood Dr	Garland	75043	Dallas County	Garland Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(972) 279-6103	784	56	14.0	92.7%	28 (3.6%)	95 (12.1%)	606 (77.3%)	34 (4.3%)	6 (0.8%)	1 (0.1%)	14 (1.8%)	17.3	2107^th of 2335 public middle schools	9.8%		27.7	1810^th of 2344 public middle schools	22.8%	297	82.7	31.0	32.8	36.8	27.4	25.8	9.3	$10,527

Frequently Asked Questions about Lake Highlands Middle

Is Lake Highlands Middle a good school?

Lake Highlands Middle ranks 342^nd of 2335 Texas middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Lake Highlands Middle?

Students at Lake Highlands Middle are 43% White, 29% Hispanic, 19% African American, 5% Asian, 3% Two or more races.

What high school do graduates of Lake Highlands Middle attend?

Students who attend Lake Highlands Middle usually go on to attend Lake Highlands High School

What district is Lake Highlands Middle in?

Richardson Independent School District (Isd)

How many students attend Lake Highlands Middle?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,114 students attended Lake Highlands Middle.

Rate Lake Highlands Middle!

Other helpful SchoolDigger resources...

Compare to nearby schools

TXTexas Middle School Rankings

TXTexas District Rankings

Schools in Dallas, TX

Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Lake Highlands Middle!

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Texas Education Agency.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.