Know what to look for…

Standardized Tests.

School performance in Texas is most readily gauged by looking at the STAAR test results. The STAAR tests are given in Math and English/Language Arts each year for grades 3 and above, and less regularly in Science, Social Studies and Writing. As you use this site to search Plano school ratings, remember that stronger schools will have averages that exceed the Plano ISD averages. While STAAR scores are not the only measure of school success, they are one of the key standards to which schools judge themselves.

Other Data.

The % of economically disadvantaged students and the mobility rate can also be predictors of school performance. Studies have shown that economically disadvantaged students do not, on average, have as much academic support at home. There are also numerous studies that draw a correlation between high poverty rates in the U.S. and higher incidents of disruptive classroom behavior. On a related note, a school’s mobility rate is more likely to be high when there is a large number of economically disadvantaged students. Mobility rate is the % of students who enroll or withdraw within a given school year. Transfers within a school year place greater demands on the student who needs to adjust to new teachers, classmates and classroom expectations—and high mobility rates also demand a great deal of time and energy from the teachers to help new students assimilate into the class routines.

School Culture.

School performance helps to set a baseline as you look for the best school for your family, but it should only be the starting point of your school search. Do you want a school known for academic excellence and cut-throat competition? Or maybe you need a school that will be supportive of your child with special needs? School culture is just as important as school performance, although it is admittedly more difficult to measure and, therefore, more difficult to research.

A small window into school culture is provided through links in the school summary section for each school. For more information about a given school or neighborhood in Plano, you can contact one of our education specialists or one of our affiliate realtors.