Nathan Adams El, Dallas TX - Test Scores & Data

Original Research by School Decision on Nathan Adams El

Nathan Adams Elementary serves students from Pre-K through fifth grade in a regular public school setting on the southeast side of Dallas. The school enrolls a small student body for its grade band, with substantial representation across early childhood and upper elementary. The student population is predominantly Hispanic, followed by a meaningful presence of Black students, with a small share of white and Asian students. A large majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting a neighborhood with significant economic need.

On state assessments administered in English in 2024-25, the school shows uneven performance across grades and subjects. In English language arts, third grade stands out with a solid rate of students meeting or exceeding state proficiency standards, while fourth and fifth grades show lower proficiency. Reading performance is notably stronger overall than mathematics; the school's third-grade ELA cohort reached a respectable level of proficiency, whereas the fourth and fifth grade groups fell well below that mark. In mathematics, performance is considerably weaker. Third grade and fourth grade show modest proficiency rates, fifth grade particularly struggles, and sixth grade (a transitional group) registers moderate results. Science proficiency in fifth grade is low. When considered across all tested subjects and grades, the school's overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile relative to other schools in Dallas County, a position that reflects strength in certain grades and subjects even as other areas show clear academic challenges. A parent may want to look into the school's approach to math instruction and support, particularly in the upper elementary grades, to understand how the school is addressing these gaps.

The broader Dallas Independent School District context matters here. In May 2026, the district obtained voter approval for a substantial bond that will replace aging schools, eliminate portable classrooms, and upgrade technology and safety across campuses over the coming years. The district has also shifted advanced course enrollment from opt-in to opt-out, automatically enrolling strong test performers into honors coursework, and adopted a new district-wide math curriculum while reducing reliance on standardized test prep. These systemic changes create opportunity for schools like Nathan Adams to benefit from improved facilities and more deliberate math instruction, though the school's current performance suggests math remains an area of focus.

The neighborhood surrounding the school sits in a growth phase. Dallas as a whole is experiencing significant new residential construction, with the metro region adding substantial population in recent years. Home values in the school's zip code are moderate and appreciating slightly, and rental availability reflects an active housing market. The area is served by Dallas Area Rapid Transit, though most errands require a car. Nearby major employers include health systems, manufacturing, and technology companies, with Southern Methodist University and other regional anchors within the broader Dallas landscape.

Nathan Adams is a neighborhood school serving a community with significant economic need and a largely Hispanic student body. Families choosing this school should understand that early-grade literacy performance is a relative strength, but mathematics proficiency across grades three through five needs attention, and the school sits within a district undertaking major curriculum and facility improvements that may influence the academic environment over the next several years.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 337%

School 37% · District 19% · ▲ 18 pts above district

▼ 3 pts below state median · ▲ 2 pts above county median

Grade 443%

School 43% · District 21% · ▲ 22 pts above district

▲ 2 pts above state median · ▲ 6 pts above county median

Grade 517%

School 17% · District 46% · ▼ 29 pts below district

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

Grade 642%

School 42% · District 32% · ▲ 10 pts above district

▲ 8 pts above state median · ▲ 12 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 361%

School 61% · District 50% · ▲ 11 pts above district

▲ 15 pts above state median · ▲ 24 pts above county median

Grade 444%

School 44% · District 52% · ▼ 8 pts below district

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

Grade 544%

School 44% · District 58% · ▼ 14 pts below district

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

Grade 652%

School 52% · District 48% · ▲ 4 pts above district

even with state median · ▲ 8 pts above county median

Science

Grade 522%

School 22% · District 13% · ▲ 9 pts above district

▼ 1 pts below state median · ▲ 3 pts above county median

This schoolDALLAS 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.