Bebensee El, Arlington TX - Test Scores & Data

Original Research by School Decision on Bebensee El

Bebensee Elementary serves pre-kindergarten through sixth grade in Arlington, part of a mid-sized elementary school population. The school's student body is predominantly Hispanic, with substantial shares of Black and Asian students and much smaller white enrollment. A large majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating concentrated economic need. No state data on special education or English learner percentages was available.

Academic performance across tested grades shows consistent struggle. In math, proficiency rates range from low in the early grades to about a third of students meeting the state standard by fifth and sixth grade. English language arts performance is somewhat stronger, with a meaningful portion of fourth and fifth graders meeting the state threshold, though proficiency remains below half even in the best-performing grades. Science proficiency, measured only in fifth grade, sits at a notably low level. Overall, across all subjects and grades, the proficiency index for Bebensee places it below the midpoint among the county's districts, meaning a majority of schools in Tarrant County show stronger tested performance.

The school sits in a housing market where median home values are moderate for the Dallas-Fort Worth region, and rents are relatively affordable. A modest share of renters spend roughly a quarter of household income on rent, suggesting relative affordability for many households, though homeownership carries a higher cost-to-income ratio. The local economy shows moderate unemployment and median household income near state average.

Arlington ISD has recently made systemic changes that affect school operations. The district approved universal free pre-K for all four-year-olds regardless of income or residency, opening access to a full-day program with a STEM focus. A bond passed in May provides funding for new schools and facility improvements across the district. At the same time, the district faces declining enrollment and has begun consolidating schools; Blanton Elementary was closed and more consolidation is signaled ahead. District leaders also adopted a new state-approved math curriculum in a closely divided vote, changing how math is taught in classrooms. Bebensee families should understand that the district is in a period of transition, with enrollment pressure shaping facility and program decisions.

A parent considering Bebensee should look at the school's academic standing relative to their own expectations and be direct with the school about support available for students working below grade level in math and science, areas where the tested results show substantial difficulty. The school's demographics and economic composition are real characteristics that shape peer environment and school culture; whether those align with a family's values and preferences is a personal choice, not a quality judgment. The broader context of district enrollment decline and school closures makes it worth understanding which schools are affected and how zone changes might affect future attendance.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 322%

School 22% · District 16% · ▲ 6 pts above district

▼ 18 pts below state median · ▼ 17 pts below county median

Grade 431%

School 31% · District 13% · ▲ 18 pts above district

▼ 10 pts below state median · ▼ 7 pts below county median

Grade 533%

School 33% · District 17% · ▲ 16 pts above district

▼ 8 pts below state median · ▼ 5 pts below county median

Grade 632%

School 32% · District 36% · ▼ 4 pts below district

▼ 2 pts below state median · ▼ 5 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 324%

School 24% · District 20% · ▲ 4 pts above district

▼ 22 pts below state median · ▼ 21 pts below county median

Grade 438%

School 38% · District 42% · ▼ 4 pts below district

▼ 11 pts below state median · ▼ 7 pts below county median

Grade 545%

School 45% · District 47% · ▼ 2 pts below district

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

Grade 639%

School 39% · District 47% · ▼ 8 pts below district

▼ 13 pts below state median · ▼ 14 pts below county median

Science

Grade 519%

School 19% · District 6% · ▲ 13 pts above district

▼ 4 pts below state median · ▲ 2 pts above 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-income39%Higher-income56%17 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income42%Higher-income67%25 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income33%Higher-income43%10 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income36%Higher-income57%21 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 4Lower-income33%Higher-income43%10 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income33%Higher-income29%4 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income29%Higher-income50%21 pp gap