The top reported proficiency rate is 62% in English language arts. The lowest is 26% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Gerard El
Gerard Elementary serves young learners from pre-K through fourth grade in Cleburne, a mid-sized Johnson County city with a historic downtown and ongoing residential growth. The school sits in a tight-knit community where civic life centers on the downtown square, though schools occupy separate campuses away from that core.
The school enrolls a substantial number of students, with fourth grade being the largest cohort. About half the enrollment qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch. The student body is predominantly white, with a meaningful Hispanic population and a smaller presence of Asian, Black, and multiracial students. Specific data on students receiving special education services or learning English as an additional language were not available, so a parent may want to inquire directly about those populations.
On state assessments, Gerard's results present a mixed picture that shifts by grade and subject. In fourth-grade English language arts, the school shows a notable strength: performance reaches the "meets grade level" standard for a clear majority of students. Fourth-grade math proficiency sits just above the midpoint. Third grade shows lower performance: in English language arts, roughly half of students meet or exceed the standard, and in math, performance is similar. The most recent science data available comes from 2022-23 and reflects only a modest share of fifth graders meeting the standard, though science assessment changes since then mean those results may not track directly to current performance. Across all tested subjects and grades combined, just under three in five students meet or exceed grade-level standards. A parent may want to look into whether the school has addressed the third-grade reading and math gaps and what supports exist for students working below proficiency.
When measured against other districts in Johnson County, Gerard's overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile—a strength relative to its county peers. The school's comparison data do not include four-year graduation or chronic absenteeism rates, which do not apply to an elementary school.
The school sits within Cleburne ISD, a district serving the city and surrounding area. The district faces two significant operational challenges. Two successive bond proposals—one in May 2025 and another in November 2025—failed at the ballot box. The latest proposal would have funded two new elementary schools to replace older buildings, including Gerard, along with classroom additions, technology upgrades, and a new stadium. Without those funds, Gerard and other aging elementary schools continue to operate near or at capacity while enrollment is growing. Twenty active subdivisions under construction in the area signal ongoing residential expansion. Families considering Gerard should be aware that facility constraints and unresolved capacity questions may shape the school's near-term outlook. On curriculum, the district recently replaced College Board Pre-AP courses with its own Advanced courses beginning in the 2024-25 school year, affecting secondary schools but not yet elementary, though this reflects a shift in how the district approaches gifted and advanced instruction.
Housing in the 76033 zip code where Gerard sits is moderately valued and remains affordable relative to national benchmarks, with modest recent price declines. Rents are stable. The area is experiencing active new construction across multiple communities, reflecting Cleburne's growth trajectory as a residential destination benefiting from its proximity to Fort Worth via the Chisholm Trail Parkway.
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