Original Research by School Decision on Ray Braswell H S
Ray Braswell High School is a large, comprehensive four-year high school in Aubrey, Texas, serving the fast-growing northern edge of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. The school enrolls a diverse student body: Black students make up the largest demographic group, followed by Hispanic, White, and Asian students. Nearly half the school qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic mix of the rapidly developing communities feeding the campus.
Aubrey itself is in the midst of explosive residential growth. What was a small agricultural town with a preserved historic downtown is now ringed by massive master-planned communities with national homebuilders constructing thousands of new homes. The housing market here is moderately priced relative to the broader DFW region, though values have softened modestly in the past year. This is the kind of place where young families with school-age children are choosing to move, attracted by affordable new construction and shorter commutes than deeper into Dallas. Ray Braswell sits within Denton ISD, which just passed a significant bond package to fund a new fifth high school and facility upgrades to handle continued growth.
The school's state assessment data, available for the most recent year, shows mixed academic results. Across all tested subjects, about three-quarters of students achieve proficiency at the "approaches" level or above, but only about one in seven reach the "masters" level, and in math particularly, the "meets" standard sits well below approaches, suggesting a wide performance spread within the school. English proficiency rates are lower than math approaches but higher than math meets. Science and social studies show stronger approaches performance, though advanced mastery is modest across disciplines. Reading the data whole, Ray Braswell has a foundation of basic proficiency for most students but faces a notable challenge in moving students from foundational to grade-level and advanced competency, especially in math.
The school is a regular public high school without magnet or charter designation, so its academic structure is broad and traditional. Specific information about AP course breadth, dual-credit partnerships, CTE programs, or specialized pathways was not available in the data, so a parent would want to explore the school's website or contact the district directly to understand what advanced options exist for college-track or career-focused students. The school's graduation rate was not provided in the available data.
Ray Braswell is part of a district navigating significant change. In November 2025, voters approved a property tax increase to address budget pressures and fund teacher salary improvements and programs. The district also shut down its virtual academy a few years ago but is relaunching it in 2026 as Denton Digital, offering families a flexible online option. These shifts suggest a district in rebalancing mode after growth and budget constraints.
For families considering Ray Braswell, the fit depends heavily on what matters most. The school offers a neighborhood high school experience in a booming growth area with a diverse peer group. The academic profile suggests solid foundational instruction but a stretch in advanced work. If your child thrives in a larger comprehensive setting and you're looking for that traditional high school experience in a family-oriented new-build community, this is one of the main pipelines for the area. If advanced coursework breadth, specialized programs, or upper-level proficiency are high priorities, that conversation is worth having directly with the school or the district.
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