Shields El, Glenn Heights TX - Test Scores & Data

Original Research by School Decision on Shields El

Shields Elementary serves pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in Glenn Heights, a fast-growing suburb straddling Dallas and Ellis counties south of the city along I-35E. The school is part of Red Oak ISD, which covers the Ellis County portion of Glenn Heights and surrounding areas.

The school draws from a residential community of newer subdivisions and master-planned neighborhoods, with a student body that is roughly balanced among Black, Hispanic, and white students. A substantial share of students qualify for free and reduced-price lunch, reflecting modest household income levels in the area. The enrollment is moderate for an elementary school serving these grade bands, with roughly equal numbers across kindergarten through fifth grade.

Academic performance shows a mixed profile across subjects and grades. In English language arts, students demonstrate relative strength: proficiency in fourth grade is solid, and fifth-grade performance is notably higher. Third-grade reading results are also respectable. Mathematics presents a different trajectory: third-grade math proficiency is low, fourth grade shows modest gains, and fifth-grade math improves further. Science, tested only in fifth grade, shows low proficiency. Overall, the school's performance sits above the midpoint among Ellis County's districts on a proficiency index. The data reflect a school where reading skills develop more consistently as children progress, while mathematics requires closer attention, particularly in the early tested grades.

The school sits within a district navigating significant growth. Red Oak ISD has invested in infrastructure: a new middle school opened in January 2026 to relieve overcrowding, and a bond approved in 2025 will fund a new elementary school and career and technical building. The district has also implemented free breakfast and lunch for all students through the federal Community Eligibility Provision, eliminating paperwork and providing household savings. The district's property tax rate has declined measurably over recent years, a meaningful factor for families considering housing costs, though rising Ellis County property values can offset those rate reductions.

Glenn Heights itself is experiencing rapid residential growth from new single-family construction and multifamily development. The city is overwhelmingly residential with minimal retail; daily life is car-dependent, with most errands and entertainment trips happening in surrounding cities. Parking, parks, and schools structure the community calendar rather than a traditional downtown. Housing costs in the zip code are slightly above the state average, and rents have risen modestly year-over-year. For families seeking an affordable suburban setting with newer homes and a family-first atmosphere, the market is active; for those considering long-term value, the growth rate and tax environment matter alongside school capacity planning.

Shields Elementary operates as a regular public school within this expanding district, serving families who value proximity to home and stable elementary programming. A parent may want to look into the school's specific math supports and intervention strategies, given the variation in proficiency across grades, and to understand how the anticipated new elementary school affects enrollment and capacity at Shields over the coming years.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 335%

School 35% · District 36% · ▼ 1 pts below district

▼ 5 pts below state median · ▼ 9 pts below county median

Grade 443%

School 43% · District 20% · ▲ 23 pts above district

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

Grade 553%

School 53% · District 43% · ▲ 10 pts above district

▲ 12 pts above state median · ▲ 8 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 351%

School 51% · District 48% · ▲ 3 pts above district

▲ 5 pts above state median · even with county median

Grade 462%

School 62% · District 50% · ▲ 12 pts above district

▲ 13 pts above state median · ▲ 12 pts above county median

Grade 571%

School 71% · District 55% · ▲ 16 pts above district

▲ 17 pts above state median · ▲ 17 pts above county median

Science

Grade 535%

School 35% · District 27% · ▲ 8 pts above district

▲ 12 pts above state median · ▲ 12 pts above county median

This schoolRED OAK 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-income35%Higher-income69%34 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income55%Higher-income72%17 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income67%Higher-income78%11 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income24%Higher-income47%23 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income33%Higher-income59%26 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income46%Higher-income63%17 pp gap