The top reported proficiency rate is 47% in English language arts. The lowest is 19% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Personalized Learning Academy at Highland Meadows
Personalized Learning Academy at Highland Meadows is a small elementary school in southeast Dallas serving kindergarten through fifth grade. The school is part of Dallas Independent School District and sits in a zip code where housing values are moderate for the Dallas metro and rental costs reflect broader regional affordability pressures.
The student body is predominantly Hispanic, with substantial Black enrollment and a very high share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. The school is full, with enrollment concentrated in pre-K and early grades. No data was available on the share of students with IEPs or English learners, so families may want to ask the school directly about these populations and support services.
State testing results show uneven performance. In English language arts, fourth graders performed strongest, with roughly two-fifths meeting or exceeding proficiency; fifth graders also scored in that range. Third graders reached the same proficiency rate in ELA but on a smaller tested group. In math, fourth graders again led at under two-fifths meeting or exceeding proficiency, while fifth graders fell notably lower, with roughly one-sixth proficient. Fifth-grade science proficiency was similarly soft. Math and ELA together show a pattern in which early fifth-grade cohorts struggle on state exams relative to their fourth-grade peers, a trend a parent may want to explore further with the school.
On broader measures, students across all tested grades showed higher rates at the "approaches" level (below proficiency) than at the "meets" or "masters" levels, meaning many students are making progress but have not yet secured grade-level command. Overall proficiency across all subjects sits above the midpoint when compared to districts in Dallas County, but that positioning reflects a small tested sample and grades with sparse enrollment on some assessments.
The school operates as a regular public elementary campus without charter or magnet status. It carries the name "Personalized Learning Academy," which may reflect a particular pedagogical model, though no specific curriculum or program details are available in the school's public data.
Dallas ISD is in the midst of significant change. The district approved a record bond in May 2026 to replace aging schools and eliminate portables, which will reshape facilities over the next several years. The district also shifted eligible students into advanced coursework through an opt-out rather than opt-in model, broadening access to college-prep content, and recently adopted a new math curriculum while reducing the weight of internal standardized testing. These district-level moves create a backdrop of curriculum revision and facility investment, though implementation and effects will vary by school.
The 75238 zip code is part of a growth corridor in Dallas, though Highland Meadows itself sits in a neighborhood context with limited specific data available. Families should visit the school and speak with staff about specific academic supports, the nature of its personalized learning approach, how it addresses the fifth-grade dip evident in test scores, and what staff support exists for students behind grade level.
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