The top reported proficiency rate is 33% in English language arts. The lowest is 10% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Rowlett El
Rowlett Elementary serves about five hundred students in pre-K through fifth grade within Garland ISD. The school is located in a zip code where housing values have declined slightly and rent has remained relatively stable; monthly rents center around a modest five figures annually, and the area has experienced minor housing depreciation. Most families qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic profile of the attendance zone.
The student body is majority Hispanic, with substantial Black and white enrollment and smaller Asian and multiracial populations. The school's enrollment is relatively balanced across grade levels, with slightly more fifth-graders than pre-K students.
Academic performance shows mixed results across tested grades. In third-grade English language arts, about half of students tested reached proficiency or above. By fifth grade, performance drops considerably: roughly three in ten fifth-graders met the math standard, while fewer than two in ten met the reading standard. Science performance in fifth grade was particularly low. Results from some Spanish-language STAAR assessments in third and fourth grade reflect very small tested cohorts, making those results difficult to interpret reliably. The school's overall proficiency index across tested subjects and grades falls below the midpoint among Dallas County districts.
When state results are viewed across proficiency levels, about two-thirds of all students reached the "approaches grade level" standard in math, but only about one-third met or exceeded expectations. In reading, about seven in ten reached "approaches," with about one-third meeting or exceeding. Science performance lagged notably. These patterns suggest that while many students are making progress toward grade-level work, the proportion reaching and exceeding standards is modest. A parent may want to look into further with the school what supports are in place for students approaching but not yet meeting grade-level standards, and what the school's specific plans are to raise proficiency in science and upper elementary mathematics.
Garland ISD, the school's parent district, is undergoing significant change. The district approved a major bond in 2023 addressing aging facilities and safety upgrades. More directly relevant to families with children now in elementary school, the district has implemented a campus consolidation plan driven by declining enrollment and reduced state funding. Beginning in the 2024-25 school year, several elementary campuses merged into other buildings. This restructuring has continued into 2025-26 and may affect future grade configurations and attendance zones. Additionally, voters approved a tax-rate increase in November 2025 to help close a budget shortfall and fund operations, teacher retention, and special education—a lasting property-tax impact for homeowners in the district.
The district has also adopted a curriculum framework centered on explicit instruction, high-quality materials, and aligned assessments including STAAR-formatted items and i-Ready diagnostics, structured toward achievement goals through 2030. This represents a pedagogical shift families will see in their children's classroom experience and how progress is measured.
Rowlett Elementary is a stable, traditional public elementary serving an economically diverse community with strong language diversity. The school faces real challenges in academic proficiency, particularly in upper elementary math and science. The broader district context of consolidation and tax increases reflects fiscal and enrollment pressures that may shape the school's trajectory over the next few years.
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