Summary:
The 14 schools in Garland's 75040 zip code, serving elementary through high school grades, present a tale of two educational systems, where a few magnet and charter schools achieve exceptional results while many traditional public schools struggle with high poverty rates and low academic performance.
The standout performers are the "Excell" academies and a charter high school. Kimberlin Academy For Excel (elementary) ranks in the 99th percentile statewide with over 90% proficiency in reading and math, while Austin Academy For Excell (middle school) ranks in the 93rd percentile. At the high school level, Harmony School Of Innovation - Garland (a charter in the Harmony Public Schools - North Texas district) far outpaces its traditional counterparts, ranking in the 83rd percentile with a 95.5% graduation rate and 0.3% dropout rate. In contrast, Garland High School and Naaman Forest High School (both in the Garland Independent School District (Isd)) rank in the 30th-42nd percentile, with graduation rates around 90% and dropout rates near 3%.
The most significant challenge is economic disadvantage, with an average of 73.5% of students across all schools receiving free or reduced lunch. Bussey Middle exemplifies this struggle, ranking in the bottom 9th percentile with a 93.63% poverty rate and test scores far below district averages. However, a curious anomaly exists: Bussey's Algebra I proficiency rate (81-86%) is surprisingly high, suggesting only a select few advanced students take that exam. Meanwhile, Cooper Elementary (31st percentile) shows the lowest single-subject score in the zip code, with just 8.47% of 5th graders proficient in science. For parents, the data clearly shows that the magnet and charter options offer dramatically better outcomes, while the traditional public schools face uphill battles against poverty and inconsistent performance.
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