The top reported proficiency rate is 42% in English language arts. The lowest is 16% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Montclair El
Montclair Elementary serves students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in Garland, a mature, built-out city in northeast Dallas County that mixes established residential neighborhoods with commercial corridors. The school sits within Garland ISD, which is mid-scale and urban, serving families across a diverse, car-oriented community where most households earn working- and middle-class wages.
The school's enrollment is small for its grade band, with families spanning substantial economic need. A large share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and the student body is predominantly Hispanic and Black, with smaller populations of white, Asian, and multiracial students. The school reports no data on students with individualized education plans or English learners, so parents may want to ask about these populations directly.
On state testing, Montclair shows mixed results across subjects and grades. In third-grade English language arts, about half the students performed at the proficient level or above; in fifth-grade ELA, the same. Third-grade math came in lower, with roughly two out of five students proficient. Fourth-grade math proficiency was notably weaker, with only a small fraction meeting the standard, and fifth-grade science proficiency was low. Fourth and fifth grade data on language arts in Spanish reflects a very small tested cohort and weak results. The school's overall proficiency rate, calculated across all tested subjects and grades, places it below the midpoint among districts in Dallas County. In Texas testing, the school's students are averaging at the "approaches" level across subjects—they are meeting some standards but not yet meeting or mastering most.
The housing market around Garland remains relatively affordable compared to much of the Dallas-Fort Worth region, though home values have recently declined modestly. Rents are stable and moderate. The area is built-out and car-dependent; families will rely on personal vehicles for most errands and activity. Downtown Garland, a few miles away, offers the city's primary walkable civic core, including the library, arts center, and DART rail station, but the neighborhood around the school itself follows suburban car-oriented patterns.
Garland ISD is currently navigating significant structural changes. The district approved a large facilities bond to modernize aging buildings and has moved to campus consolidation due to declining enrollment. Montclair students are scheduled to relocate to Heather Glen in the 2025-26 school year as part of this consolidation. The district has also raised property taxes in recent years to close budget shortfalls and fund operations, salaries, and special education. Parents should be aware of these ongoing transitions and their timing.
The district has adopted a curriculum framework centered on explicit instruction, STAAR-aligned materials, and i-Ready assessments, with multi-year achievement goals. Families should expect classroom instruction aligned to this framework and regular interim assessments.
A parent considering Montclair should view this as a school serving a high-need, predominantly Hispanic and Black student population in a stable but economically modest neighborhood, with state test proficiency that is below county norms and will be in transition due to consolidation. The relocation to another campus and the district's broader financial and enrollment context are material factors in any enrollment decision. A parent may want to follow up directly with the school and district on supports, special education and English learner services, and the timeline and details of the campus move.
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