The top reported proficiency rate is 52% in English language arts. The lowest is 27% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Shaw El
Shaw El is a pre-kindergarten through fifth-grade public elementary school in Mesquite, Texas, part of Mesquite ISD in Dallas County. Its enrollment places it in the mid-range for a school spanning that grade band. A large majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which tells you this is a community serving families with limited economic resources. The student body is predominantly Hispanic, with a substantial Black student population, a smaller share of white students, and modest representation across other groups. English learner counts were not available in the data provided.
On the Texas STAAR assessment, the picture varies by subject and grade. The broadest available view shows that roughly three-quarters of tested students across all subjects reach the "Approaches" threshold, which is Texas's baseline performance standard. Getting to "Meets Grade Level," a stronger indicator of on-track learning, drops to about four in ten students. Reaching "Masters," the top tier, is considerably less common. That pattern suggests most students are clearing the lowest bar but a much smaller portion are demonstrating deep command of the material.
Reading across individual grades, ELA results are modestly stronger than math. Fourth and fifth graders taking the English-language ELA exam passed at rates above half, which is a relative bright spot. Math proficiency, especially in the grades where the Spanish-language STAAR was used, was quite low. The grade-level tested groups for the Spanish assessments in some grades were small enough that results should be read cautiously; a very small tested group means a single student's performance can meaningfully shift the rate. Science results for fifth grade were not reported, likely because the tested group was too small to release under state data privacy rules. Trend data covers only one year, so there is no multi-year trajectory to describe.
Relative to districts in Dallas County, Shaw El's overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile of the comparison set, which is a meaningful position given a county with dozens of districts spanning very different community profiles. A parent should weigh that positioning alongside the absolute proficiency levels described above, because both pieces of information matter.
No program offerings data was available, so there is nothing to report on enrichment, dual-language programming, or specialized services beyond what the demographics indirectly suggest. The school's dual use of English and Spanish STAAR versions across different grade levels indicates at least some students are served in Spanish, but details on the structure of any bilingual or dual-language program were not in the data. A parent with a student who is an English learner or who is in a bilingual pathway would want to ask the school directly about how that programming is organized. IEP and English learner population counts were also missing from the data.
On housing near the school, the zip code's typical home value sits below the Texas state average and noticeably below the national figure. Values have declined modestly year over year. Rents are relatively modest as well and have been roughly flat, making the neighborhood more accessible than many Dallas County zip codes. Affordability by income ratios comes in below the national average, which is a positive signal for families weighing whether to buy in the area.
The locale research budget was exhausted before usable detail on Mesquite's character, employers, or civic features could be gathered, so that context is absent here rather than invented. Similarly, the district brief search found no confirmed recent parent-relevant changes at Mesquite ISD to report.
A graduation rate does not apply to Shaw El, as it serves only elementary grades.
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