Lorenzo De Zavala Environmental Science Academy, Grand Prairie TX

Original Research by School Decision on Lorenzo De Zavala Environmental Science Academy

Lorenzo de Zavala Environmental Science Academy is a public elementary school serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in Grand Prairie. The school sits within a diverse, economically mixed part of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex where about a quarter of residents are foreign-born and employment spans health care, manufacturing, and retail trade. Housing values in the area are moderate, and rental costs are reasonable as a share of household income.

The school enrolls a small-to-mid-sized student body, with a student population that is predominantly Hispanic, followed by a substantial Black enrollment and a smaller white enrollment. About four-fifths of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a marker of economic need. Specific data on English learner enrollment and special education enrollment were not available in the materials reviewed.

Academic performance on state testing shows mixed results across grade levels and subjects. In fourth grade, the most complete grade band in the data, math proficiency reached the mid-range and English language arts proficiency was close behind. Fifth grade English language arts showed notably stronger outcomes. Fifth grade science proficiency, however, was considerably lower, pointing to a soft spot in that subject area for the oldest students in the school. Testing data for third grade was incomplete, so a full picture of performance progression through the elementary grades cannot be drawn from the available results. Across all tested subjects and grades combined, the school's overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile relative to other districts in Dallas County, a meaningful distinction, though this aggregate metric masks the subject-level variation noted above. A parent may want to discuss with the school how science instruction is structured, especially as children approach middle school, and what support or curriculum shifts might be in place.

The school's mission centers on environmental science, though curriculum specifics and the depth of integration of that focus across grade levels were not detailed in the materials provided. Program details, staffing information, and attendance or discipline data were not available to review.

The broader Grand Prairie Independent School District context could not be fully characterized; recent strategic shifts or major initiatives district-wide were not confirmed before the research budget ran out. For specific questions about how this school's environmental focus operates day-to-day, special programs, or recent changes in instructional approach, direct conversation with the school or district is the best source.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 446%

School 46% · District 39% · ▲ 7 pts above district

▲ 5 pts above state median · ▲ 9 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 339%

School 39% · District 45% · ▼ 6 pts below district

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

Grade 448%

School 48% · District 45% · ▲ 3 pts above district

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

Grade 560%

School 60% · District 40% · ▲ 20 pts above district

▲ 6 pts above state median · ▲ 10 pts above county median

Science

Grade 526%

School 26% · District 12% · ▲ 14 pts above district

▲ 3 pts above state median · ▲ 7 pts above county median

This schoolGRAND PRAIRIE 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.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 3Lower-income5%Higher-income53%48 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income46%Higher-income56%10 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income67%Higher-income71%4 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income39%Higher-income59%20 pp gap