Advertisement

GreatSchools Rating

Isbell Elementary School

Public | K-5 | 782 students

Last modified
Community Rating

4 stars


Teacher quality

Principal leadership

Parent involvement

Rate this school

Click on stars to rate
Please select a star rating for this school.
    Helpful reviews answer questions:
  • What do you think others should know?
  • What do you like?
  • How could your school improve?
    Review Guidelines
    GreatSchools won’t post reviews that contain:
  • Inappropriate language
  • Allegations of criminal conduct
  • Names of students, teachers or staff
1200 characters remaining
Please indicate your relationship to the school.
Please read and accept our Terms of Use to join GreatSchools.
Indicates a required field

9 reviews of this school


Sort by:
Show reviews by:
Posted May 15, 2008

Our son is in 1st grade at Isbell and seems to enjoy it. His kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Denison, was fantastic in motivating our son while maintaining a consistent approach to discipline. His first grade teacher, Ms. McAfee is equally qualified. While I've not spoken directly to Mrs. Lemmons, I feel she has performed well as the principal/leader of Isbell. I'm pleased with the structure of the programs, opportunities for additional learning experiences outside the classroom, and the teachers all seem to share in the general positive feel at the school. My wife and I are very happy with the results we are seeing at Isbell Elementary.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted March 11, 2008

Last summer we were 95% certain about sending our son to private school. However, after hearing so many positive comments about Isbell from friends/neighbors, we decided to send our son to Kindergarten at Isbell. It has absolutely been the right decision for us. Our son loves his school, his teacher & the friends he has made. I'm at his school at least once or twice a week, and I'm amazed at how the teachers & staff are always outgoing & attentive to the students. Everyone - teachers & students alike seem happy to be there. In the beginning, I actually looked for reasons to pull our son our & continue on down the private school track, but I simply could not find any reason whatsoever to do so. I think Isbell is a fantistic school w/ourstanding leadership & teachers. No private school for us!
—Submitted by a parent


Posted February 25, 2008

My kids attended this school for the first two years it was open. We loved the teachers, but the principal was aweful (Mrs. Lemmons). There was no consistant discipline and she let certain parents/teachers rule the school. Compared to Plano schools and schools in other states, the learning level was low. The special education department lacked in so many ways. Many of the parents were snobby and so were their kids. We are now moving back to Texas and plan to stay far away from Isbell. We did love Mrs. Pretzel and the P.E. Teacher.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted September 27, 2007

I used to be the school nurse of Isbell. I'm not sure who the nay-say parents are, but they won't find the level of learning and community found at Isbell anywhere else, public or private. Mrs. Lemons deserves commendation for dealing with negative parents, and for holding her head high above it all. I couldn't have asked for a better principal for my child, or boss to work . She LOVES the kids at Isbell, wants them to learn, and ratings and TAKS results support the school's success. Kids. MOST parents, and the staff appreciate her dedication. I wish my daughter had a school like Isbell to attend in our new location. I will definitely miss Isbell. Stacy Frisbie, RN, BSN


Posted August 27, 2007

My 2 children have attended Isbell since its opening. Their teachers have been consistently good and I certainly felt I had enough communication from them. Keep in mind my kids required minimal encouragement since they are both enthusiastic about school; I'm not certain how a more needy child might have fared.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted June 26, 2007

I do not recommend this school. The principal is not a leader. Do not let her fool you. The teachers are great but the definitely need a different leader.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted April 16, 2007

My daughter (3rd grade) and son (kindergarten) both attend Isbell and have had a very positive experience with the school. The teachers are so energetic and happy and do so much to motivate the students to learn, the facility and resources are top-notch, and the parents are very involved. My daughter's teacher, Mrs. Shearer, is amazing! She is a gifted teacher, encourages the children constantly and makes them truly excited to learn. She obviously loves teaching. She really inspires my daughter, who absolutely adores her! My son's kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Richardson, is so patient and positive, and also teaches the kids so much. I have to commend the principal, who has done an outstanding job despite incredible pressure from parents and stay-at-home moms who typically want to give their own kids an advantage over others. Overall, we are extremely pleased with Isbell and the Frisco ISD.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted February 26, 2007

I do not recommend it. No discipline strategies applied. No parent/teacher communication. My child attended the school few years ago and had a hard time adjusting. This all reflected on her/his academic performance.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted February 2, 2007

My child attended Isbell after Hurricane Katrina and I was so impressed with the principal, his teachers and the school in general. Everyone was so nice to him and made him feel welcome. He talks about the school all the time and asks when can I go back to Isbell. I think for a child to be thrown into a new school after a major disaster and for the child to fall in love with the staff and school says a lot about the place. I really appreciate the great job that Mrs. Shearer did with my child not only teaching him but comforting him in a time when he needed it most. Thank you Isbell.
—Submitted by Lenor Duplessis, a parent


Community ratings and reviews do not represent the views of GreatSchools nor does GreatSchools check their accuracy or verify the reviewers' identities. Use your discretion when evaluating these reviews.

About these ratings

The Community Rating is the school’s average rating from its community members (e.g., parents, students, and school staff). The highest possible rating is five stars; the lowest is one star.

The test results by subgroup show how the designated group of students is performing in comparison to the general population.
Math

The state average for Math was 87% in 2011.

124 students were tested at this school in 2011.

2011

 
 
98%

2010

 
 
98%

2009

 
 
95%

2008

 
 
92%
Reading

The state average for Reading was 89% in 2011.

122 students were tested at this school in 2011.

2011

 
 
98%

2010

 
 
99%

2009

 
 
100%

2008

 
 
99%
Scale: % meeting or exceeding standards

About the tests


In 2010-2011, the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) was used to test students in reading in grades 3 through 9; in writing in grades 4 and 7; in English language arts in grades 10 and 11; in mathematics in grades 3 through 11; in science in grades 5, 8, 10 and 11; and in social studies in grades 8, 10 and 11. TAKS is a standards-based test, which means it measures how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Texas. The grade 11 Exit Level TAKS is a high school graduation requirement. The goal is for all students to score at or above the state standard.

See Texas' state standards

Source: Texas Education Agency

Math

The state average for Math was 88% in 2011.

131 students were tested at this school in 2011.

2011

 
 
100%

2010

 
 
97%

2009

 
 
97%

2008

 
 
95%
Reading

The state average for Reading was 85% in 2011.

129 students were tested at this school in 2011.

2011

 
 
98%

2010

 
 
97%

2009

 
 
98%

2008

 
 
96%
Writing

The state average for Writing was 90% in 2011.

130 students were tested at this school in 2011.

2011

 
 
99%

2010

 
 
100%

2009

 
 
98%

2008

 
 
100%
Scale: % meeting or exceeding standards

About the tests


In 2010-2011, the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) was used to test students in reading in grades 3 through 9; in writing in grades 4 and 7; in English language arts in grades 10 and 11; in mathematics in grades 3 through 11; in science in grades 5, 8, 10 and 11; and in social studies in grades 8, 10 and 11. TAKS is a standards-based test, which means it measures how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Texas. The grade 11 Exit Level TAKS is a high school graduation requirement. The goal is for all students to score at or above the state standard.

See Texas' state standards

Source: Texas Education Agency

Math

The state average for Math was 81% in 2011.

108 students were tested at this school in 2011.

2011

 
 
99%

2010

 
 
99%

2009

 
 
99%

2008

 
 
98%
Reading

The state average for Reading was 82% in 2011.

108 students were tested at this school in 2011.

2011

 
 
99%

2010

 
 
98%

2009

 
 
100%

2008

 
 
100%
Science

The state average for Science was 87% in 2011.

107 students were tested at this school in 2011.

2011

 
 
99%

2010

 
 
99%

2009

 
 
98%

2008

 
 
91%
Scale: % meeting or exceeding standards

About the tests


In 2010-2011, the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) was used to test students in reading in grades 3 through 9; in writing in grades 4 and 7; in English language arts in grades 10 and 11; in mathematics in grades 3 through 11; in science in grades 5, 8, 10 and 11; and in social studies in grades 8, 10 and 11. TAKS is a standards-based test, which means it measures how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Texas. The grade 11 Exit Level TAKS is a high school graduation requirement. The goal is for all students to score at or above the state standard.

See Texas' state standards

Source: Texas Education Agency

Math

All Students98%
Female98%
Male98%
Black or African American100%
Asian100%
Hispanic90%
American Indian or Alaska Nativen/a
White99%
Economically disadvantaged100%
Not economically disadvantaged98%
Special education90%
Not special education99%
Limited English proficient (LEP)100%
Proficient in English98%
Migrantn/a
Non-migrant98%
Gifted/talented100%

Reading

All Students98%
Female97%
Male98%
Black or African American100%
Asian100%
Hispanic100%
American Indian or Alaska Nativen/a
White96%
Economically disadvantaged100%
Not economically disadvantaged97%
Special education88%
Not special education98%
Limited English proficient (LEP)80%
Proficient in English98%
Migrantn/a
Non-migrant98%
Gifted/talented100%
Scale: % meeting or exceeding standards

About the tests


In 2010-2011, the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) was used to test students in reading in grades 3 through 9; in writing in grades 4 and 7; in English language arts in grades 10 and 11; in mathematics in grades 3 through 11; in science in grades 5, 8, 10 and 11; and in social studies in grades 8, 10 and 11. TAKS is a standards-based test, which means it measures how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Texas. The grade 11 Exit Level TAKS is a high school graduation requirement. The goal is for all students to score at or above the state standard.

The different student groups are identified by the Texas Education Agency; if there are a small number of students in a particular group, the state doesn't report data for that group.

See Texas' state standards

Source: Texas Education Agency

Math

All Students100%
Female100%
Male100%
Black or African American100%
Asian100%
Hispanic100%
American Indian or Alaska Nativen/a
White100%
Economically disadvantagedn/a
Not economically disadvantaged100%
Special education100%
Not special education100%
Limited English proficient (LEP)n/a
Proficient in English100%
Migrantn/a
Non-migrant100%
Gifted/talented100%

Reading

All Students98%
Female99%
Male98%
Black or African American100%
Asian100%
Hispanic100%
American Indian or Alaska Nativen/a
White98%
Economically disadvantagedn/a
Not economically disadvantaged98%
Special education100%
Not special education98%
Limited English proficient (LEP)n/a
Proficient in English98%
Migrantn/a
Non-migrant98%
Gifted/talented100%

Writing

All Students99%
Female100%
Male98%
Black or African American100%
Asian100%
Hispanic100%
American Indian or Alaska Nativen/a
White99%
Economically disadvantagedn/a
Not economically disadvantaged99%
Special education100%
Not special education99%
Limited English proficient (LEP)n/a
Proficient in English99%
Migrantn/a
Non-migrant99%
Gifted/talented100%
Scale: % meeting or exceeding standards

About the tests


In 2010-2011, the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) was used to test students in reading in grades 3 through 9; in writing in grades 4 and 7; in English language arts in grades 10 and 11; in mathematics in grades 3 through 11; in science in grades 5, 8, 10 and 11; and in social studies in grades 8, 10 and 11. TAKS is a standards-based test, which means it measures how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Texas. The grade 11 Exit Level TAKS is a high school graduation requirement. The goal is for all students to score at or above the state standard.

The different student groups are identified by the Texas Education Agency; if there are a small number of students in a particular group, the state doesn't report data for that group.

See Texas' state standards

Source: Texas Education Agency

Math

All Students99%
Female98%
Male100%
Black or African Americann/a
Asian100%
Hispanic100%
American Indian or Alaska Nativen/a
White100%
Economically disadvantaged83%
Not economically disadvantaged100%
Special education100%
Not special education99%
Limited English proficient (LEP)n/a
Proficient in English99%
Migrantn/a
Non-migrant99%
Gifted/talented100%

Reading

All Students99%
Female100%
Male98%
Black or African Americann/a
Asian100%
Hispanic100%
American Indian or Alaska Nativen/a
White99%
Economically disadvantaged100%
Not economically disadvantaged99%
Special education100%
Not special education99%
Limited English proficient (LEP)n/a
Proficient in English99%
Migrantn/a
Non-migrant99%
Gifted/talented100%

Science

All Students99%
Female100%
Male98%
Black or African Americann/a
Asian100%
Hispanic100%
American Indian or Alaska Nativen/a
White99%
Economically disadvantaged100%
Not economically disadvantaged99%
Special education100%
Not special education99%
Limited English proficient (LEP)n/a
Proficient in English99%
Migrantn/a
Non-migrant99%
Gifted/talented100%
Scale: % meeting or exceeding standards

About the tests


In 2010-2011, the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) was used to test students in reading in grades 3 through 9; in writing in grades 4 and 7; in English language arts in grades 10 and 11; in mathematics in grades 3 through 11; in science in grades 5, 8, 10 and 11; and in social studies in grades 8, 10 and 11. TAKS is a standards-based test, which means it measures how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Texas. The grade 11 Exit Level TAKS is a high school graduation requirement. The goal is for all students to score at or above the state standard.

The different student groups are identified by the Texas Education Agency; if there are a small number of students in a particular group, the state doesn't report data for that group.

See Texas' state standards

Source: Texas Education Agency

  • In 2010-2011, this school was rated "Exemplary".
  • In 2009-2010, this school was rated "Exemplary".
  • In 2008-2009, this school was rated "Exemplary".

About the tests


Texas uses Accountability Ratings to indicate the overall performance of each school and district. The ratings are based on TAKS test results, dropout rates for grades 7 and 8 and school completion rates for grades 9 through 12. Schools and districts rated under standard accountability procedures are designated as Exemplary, Recognized, Academically Acceptable or Academically Unacceptable. Schools and districts rated under alternative education accountability (AEA) procedures are designated as either AEA: Academically Acceptable or AEA: Academically Unacceptable.

See Texas' state standards

Source: Texas Education Agency

Breaking down the GreatSchools Rating

GreatSchools Ratings are based on the most recent standardized test results for schools. Use the breakdown ratings below to compare types of students at this school. Learn more »


Student ethnicity

Ethnicity This school State average
White 74% 34%
Asian/Pacific Islander 18% 4%
Hispanic 5% 48%
Black 4% 14%
American Indian/Alaska Native 1% 0%
Source: NCES, 2008-2009

Student subgroups

  This school District averageState average
Special education 5%N/A10%
Gifted/talented students 3%N/A8%
Limited English proficient (LEP) 4%N/A17%
Economically disadvantaged 1%N/A55%
Source: TX Education Agency, 2007-2008

Student-teacher ratio

  This school District averageState average
Students per FTE teacher 18N/A15
Source: NCES, 2008-2009

Teacher experience

  This school District averageState average
Beginning teachers 10%N/A8%
1 to 5 years 56%N/A30%
6 to 10 years 18%N/A20%
11 to 20 years 15%N/A23%
21 or more years 0%N/A19%
Source: TX Education Agency, 2007-2008
Notice an inaccuracy? Let us know!

6000 Maltby Dr
Frisco, TX 75035
Website: Click here
Phone: (469) 633-3400

ADVERTISEMENT

Compare this school
to nearby schools

Compare schools »

Compare

Add this school to compare
ADVERTISEMENT