The top reported proficiency rate is 47% in English language arts. The lowest is 15% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Mabank Int
Mabank Intermediate serves grades five and six in a growing small town near Cedar Creek Lake, about an hour southeast of Dallas. The school sits at the center of the district's enrollment expansion: Mabank ISD voters approved a substantial bond package in May 2024 after two consecutive referendums failed, bringing new construction and renovations across the system. The intermediate campus itself is slated for interior upgrades and added parking, part of a broader district reshaping that families moving into the area will experience directly.
The student body is predominantly white with meaningful Hispanic representation and substantial economic need. A large majority of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. The school does not report data on students with individualized education plans or English learners, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about those populations and their support services.
Academic proficiency on state assessments is below the midpoint for schools in Kaufman County. In English language arts, about half of students in both grades five and six met or exceeded the proficiency standard on the 2024-25 STAAR exam. Math shows lower proficiency, with just over one-third of students meeting or exceeding the standard in each grade. Science performance is notably weaker; only a small fraction of fifth graders demonstrated proficiency on the spring test. Across all tested subjects and grades, about one-third of students scored at the proficient level or above. Social studies results, tested at the intermediate level, show about half of students meeting the standard for approaches to passing level, but mastery is uncommon.
The school does not publish trend data spanning multiple years, so it is unclear whether these results represent improvement, decline, or stability. The intermediate grade band itself poses a question: since Mabank ISD has separate elementary, intermediate, and junior high campuses, the pathway students follow is different from districts with traditional K-5, 6-8, or 6-12 configurations. A parent may want to understand how that transition sequence supports academic continuity, and what specific supports exist for the jump from elementary into the fifth-grade intermediate setting.
The town itself is small and growing, with new residential subdivisions attracting families and retirees. Housing costs are moderate relative to national benchmarks, and most residents rent. Cedar Creek Reservoir anchors outdoor life. The school is located on North Third Street in the residential part of town, not in the small downtown corridor along Market Street. Civic amenities include a public library, but the area is auto-oriented with no fixed-route transit, so daily transportation to school and activities relies on personal vehicles.
Given the academic performance data, a family considering this school should view it as a setting where additional academic support, tutoring, or enrichment may be necessary to reach state proficiency standards, particularly in math and science. The intermediate structure offers a transitional environment, but understanding the continuity plan from grade four into grade five and from grade six onward would help a parent assess fit.
See more original research from School Decision →