Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 75240

This analysis examines three elementary schools in zip code 75240 of Dallas, Texas, serving grades Pre-Kindergarten through 6th grade within the Richardson Independent School District (Isd), which holds a 3-star rating and ranks in the 63rd percentile statewide.

Northwood Hills Elementary stands out as the strongest academic performer, with the lowest free/reduced lunch rate (65%) and notable strengths in 5th Grade Science (42.86% proficiency in 2024-2025, well above state averages) and 3rd Grade Mathematics (57.14% in 2025-2026). However, its state ranking dropped sharply from the 58th percentile in 2023-2024 to the 28th-29th percentile in subsequent years, a significant decline worth investigating. Carolyn G Bukhair Elementary serves as a middle-ground option with a very high free/reduced lunch rate (92.8%) but test scores often near district averages, including a 53.85% 5th Grade Reading proficiency in 2025-2026. It also demonstrates a strong bilingual program, with Spanish-language STAAR Reading scores consistently outperforming district averages. Risd Academy faces the most significant challenges, with the highest free/reduced lunch rate (96.17%) and the lowest state rankings, consistently in the bottom 6% of Texas elementary schools. Its test scores are dramatically below district and state averages, such as a mere 2.47% proficiency in 5th Grade Science, though a notable anomaly is its 55.56% 3rd Grade Reading proficiency in 2025-2026, which exceeded the state average.

Key metrics show enrollments ranging from 563 to 731 students, student-teacher ratios from 14.4:1 to 16:1, and per-student spending between $11,471 and $12,379. Notably, the school with the highest spending (Bukhair) does not achieve the best outcomes, while Northwood Hills, with mid-range spending, performs best, suggesting resource efficiency matters more than total expenditure. The strong correlation between poverty rates and academic performance is evident, with Northwood Hills' lower poverty rate aligning with its stronger results, while the two higher-poverty schools struggle more significantly.