Lake Dallas Schools Report Steady Academic Performance Amid Statewide Testing Declines

The Lake Dallas Independent School District (ISD) Board convened on January 13, 2025, to discuss key updates regarding student demographics and academic performance for the 2023-2024 school year. The meeting began with a reminder that state accountability ratings are currently pending due to ongoing legal cases.

The board reviewed the demographics of Lake Dallas ISD, noting that the student population consists of 9.8% African American, 3.3% Asian, 35.9% Hispanic, 5.5% identifying as two or more races, and 44.9% White. Additionally, 42.9% of students are economically disadvantaged, 13.4% are in special education, and 14.1% are part of the English as a Second Language (ESL) bilingual program. These figures have shown minimal fluctuation over the years.

In terms of academic performance, the board reported that a total of 5,906 State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) or End of Course (EOC) assessments were administered. A comparison of results from 2023 to 2024 indicated a slight overall decrease in scores across the state, region, and district. However, Lake Dallas ISD maintained a performance level above the state and regional averages in several areas.

Specifically, in English Language Arts and Reading, Lake Dallas ISD achieved a passing rate of 78%, which is above both state and regional averages. The performance of elementary students in grades 3 to 5 was slightly below the state and region, with grade 4 showing a slight improvement from the previous year.

Middle school performance for grades 6 to 8 showed that Lake Dallas ISD was on par with state averages, with grade 8 achieving an 83% passing rate. High school students in English 1 and English 2 outperformed their peers in the region and state by 6 to 7 percentage points.

In mathematics, the district's performance remained stable despite a general decline in scores statewide. Notably, grade 3 math scores increased by 3% compared to the previous year, while grades 4 and 5 also showed slight improvements. The board highlighted that 26% of seventh graders were accelerated to take the eighth-grade math test, which contributed to the overall performance metrics.

The meeting concluded with a focus on continued efforts to improve academic outcomes, particularly in algebra, where the district saw a 4 percentage point increase in EOC exam scores from the previous year. The board emphasized the importance of ongoing interventions and support to sustain and enhance student achievement moving forward.