Short El, Arlington TX - Test Scores & Data

Original Research by School Decision on Short El

Short Elementary serves a small school of pre-kindergarten through sixth grade in Arlington, located in Tarrant County. The enrollment spans roughly ages four through twelve and is concentrated in the lower elementary grades, with the largest cohorts in pre-K and second grade. The student body is diverse: a substantial majority are Hispanic or Black, with smaller numbers of white students and other groups represented. A large majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting a neighborhood of lower household income.

The school's state assessment results show performance that sits well below the midpoint among Tarrant County schools. In English language arts, proficiency rates across grades three through six cluster in the low to mid-range, with the weakest performance in fifth grade. Math proficiency is similarly low across tested grades, with only about one-third of fourth graders and sixth graders meeting or exceeding standards, and notably lower rates in third and fifth grades. Science proficiency in fifth grade is particularly weak. When results are rolled up across all subjects and grade levels, Short Elementary's overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile of county schools. A parent may want to look into this further with the school or the district to understand what academic supports are available and what instructional changes or improvements are underway.

One bright spot for families with younger children is that Arlington ISD now offers universal free pre-K for four-year-olds, regardless of income or residency, with a curriculum emphasizing STEM. That program removes a cost barrier for families considering the district.

The Arlington ISD context matters. The district has been managing significant enrollment decline and has begun consolidating schools; Blanton Elementary was voted for permanent closure. In May 2026 voters approved a bond funding new and replacement school buildings and facility improvements. More recently, in March 2026, the board adopted new state-approved math materials in a closely divided vote. These changes reshape the instructional and physical environment students experience. The district is also signaling that more school consolidations may come as enrollment continues to fall, so a parent should check with the district whether Short Elementary's attendance boundaries or operations might shift.

Housing in the 76015 ZIP code is more affordable than the state average, with median home values and rents tracking below Texas benchmarks. The neighborhood is economically diverse, though the high free-and-reduced-lunch rate at the school suggests many families in the immediate area have lower incomes.

Short Elementary is a neighborhood school without magnet or charter designation, serving a genuine cross-section of Arlington's younger students. The academic performance data makes clear this is a school where students are struggling with grade-level content, and families considering enrollment should engage directly with staff about the school's support systems and any recent academic initiatives.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 320%

School 20% · District 16% · ▲ 4 pts above district

▼ 20 pts below state median · ▼ 19 pts below county median

Grade 435%

School 35% · District 13% · ▲ 22 pts above district

▼ 6 pts below state median · ▼ 3 pts below county median

Grade 519%

School 19% · District 17% · ▲ 2 pts above district

▼ 22 pts below state median · ▼ 19 pts below county median

Grade 633%

School 33% · District 36% · ▼ 3 pts below district

▼ 1 pts below state median · ▼ 4 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 327%

School 27% · District 20% · ▲ 7 pts above district

▼ 19 pts below state median · ▼ 18 pts below county median

Grade 426%

School 26% · District 42% · ▼ 16 pts below district

▼ 23 pts below state median · ▼ 19 pts below county median

Grade 519%

School 19% · District 47% · ▼ 28 pts below district

▼ 35 pts below state median · ▼ 29 pts below county median

Grade 625%

School 25% · District 47% · ▼ 22 pts below district

▼ 27 pts below state median · ▼ 28 pts below county median

Science

Grade 58%

School 8% · District 6% · ▲ 2 pts above district

▼ 15 pts below state median · ▼ 9 pts below county median

This schoolARLINGTON ISD, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 3Lower-income25%Higher-income38%13 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income17%Higher-income29%12 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income23%Higher-income33%10 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income19%Higher-income25%6 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income17%Higher-income29%12 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income30%Higher-income44%14 pp gap