The top reported proficiency rate is 94% in English language arts. The lowest is 85% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Bradfield El
Bradfield Elementary is a small public school serving pre-kindergarten through fourth grade in the Highland Park Independent School District, located in an affluent Dallas neighborhood. The school enrollment sits at just over half that of a typical elementary school for its grade span, with roughly similar numbers in each grade from first through fourth.
The student body is predominantly white, with smaller representation from Asian and Hispanic students, and very few Black students or other groups. Free-or-reduced-price lunch data are not available in the school's records, which is common in affluent districts where few students qualify. No data on English learners or students with IEPs appear in the available records either.
Academically, Bradfield shows strong performance on state testing. In English language arts, third graders earned proficiency rates in the high range, while fourth graders scored even higher. Math proficiency is also solid, though it runs somewhat behind ELA; fourth-grade math proficiency is notably stronger than third-grade. Across all tested subjects and grade levels, the school's overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile when compared to districts in Dallas County, indicating academic standing above the regional middle. The data reflect a single year and do not show longer-term trends.
Highland Park ISD itself is a wealthy district serving an affluent area with high property values. In a significant 2024 referendum, voters approved a substantial bond package without requiring a tax rate increase, funding new construction, renovations, equipment, and buses. More consequentially for teacher and classroom quality, a November 2021 voter-approved tax measure dedicated additional revenue entirely to staff and teacher compensation, allowing the district to move from one of the lowest pay scales in North Texas to substantially higher salaries. These investments shape the district's ability to recruit and retain experienced teachers.
The school sits in Dallas, a large North Texas city with strong economic anchors and robust growth. The immediate area around Bradfield is characterized by high property values and stable, residential neighborhoods. Housing costs in the zip code are well above state and national benchmarks. Families considering this school are generally drawn from or investing in this affluent area.
One change that may matter to families: in 2023, the HPISD board eliminated the middle and high school theatre arts program and consolidated elementary administration, decisions that drew substantial opposition from parents, students, and teachers at board meetings. While this affects secondary school offerings more directly, it signals the district's recent cost-reduction priorities.
For families in this neighborhood seeking a small, academically strong elementary school with a predominantly white, affluent student body and strong teacher compensation, Bradfield fits that profile clearly. The school's testing results and comparison position reflect solid academic foundations. A parent may want to contact the school directly about specific offerings, class sizes, and the character of instruction, since detailed program and staffing data beyond test results were not available in the public record.
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