JAMES BOWIE EL vs CEDAR CREST EL
JAMES BOWIE EL and CEDAR CREST EL are very closely rated, both scoring around 9.0 out of 10. In math proficiency, JAMES BOWIE EL leads at 43.0%.
JAMES BOWIE EL
Dallas, TX
317 students
CEDAR CREST EL
Dallas, TX
373 students
Ratings Comparison
| Metric | JAMES BOWIE EL | CEDAR CREST EL |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 9.0 / 10 | 9.4 / 10 |
| Academic Score | 8.5 | 8.7 |
| Growth Score | 9.2 | 10.0 |
| Diversity Index | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 96.5% | 99.2% |
| Environment Score | 9.2 | 9.2 |
| State Rank | #139 of 8,547 | #35 of 8,547 |
| State Percentile | 98th | 100th |
Test Scores
| Subject | JAMES BOWIE EL | CEDAR CREST EL |
|---|---|---|
| Math Proficiency | 43.0% | 22.0% |
| Math (State Avg) | — | — |
| ELA Proficiency | 39.0% | 22.0% |
| ELA (State Avg) | — | — |
School Details
Neighborhood
| Metric | Dallas (75203) | Dallas (75203) |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $46,358 | $46,358 |
| Median Home Value | $125,000 | $125,000 |
| Median Rent | $1,110 | $1,110 |
| College Educated (Bachelor's+) | 16.9% | 16.9% |
| Poverty Rate | 30.5% | 30.5% |
| Avg Commute | 31 min | 31 min |
The data story: JAMES BOWIE EL vs CEDAR CREST EL
Cedar Crest El and James Bowie El sit 1.6 miles apart in Dallas, Texas, but their state rankings tell a sharper story than their overall ratings suggest. Cedar Crest El holds an overall rating of 9.4/10 versus James Bowie El's 9.0/10 — a 0.4-point gap that translates to a substantial difference in state standing: Cedar Crest El ranks #35 of 8,547 Texas schools while James Bowie El ranks #139 of 8,547. Both are high performers by any measure, but Cedar Crest El sits in Texas's top 0.5 percent, placing it among a small tier of elite elementary schools statewide.
On academic proficiency, the two schools are close: James Bowie El scores 8.5/10 versus Cedar Crest El's 8.7/10. The growth score is where the gap opens materially. Cedar Crest El earns a perfect 10.0/10 on student growth against James Bowie El's already-strong 9.2/10 — a 0.8-point difference that reflects Cedar Crest El's ability to advance students faster regardless of their starting point. For parents who weigh year-over-year academic momentum heavily, this gap is the most significant data point in the comparison.
Both schools serve high-poverty populations with strikingly similar free and reduced-price lunch rates — James Bowie El at 96% and Cedar Crest El at 99% — meaning neither school has a demographic advantage in its ratings. James Bowie El enrolls 317 students with a student-teacher ratio of 10.2:1, offering notably smaller class sizes than Cedar Crest El's 373 students and 11.3:1 ratio. That one additional student per teacher at Cedar Crest El is a modest trade-off given its growth performance, but the difference is real for families who prioritize individualized attention.
Cedar Crest El also extends one grade further, serving students through sixth grade (PK–06) compared to James Bowie El's PK–05 range. Families with a child who would otherwise transition to middle school after fifth grade can defer that move by a year at Cedar Crest El — a structural distinction worth factoring in for households with younger children mapping out a multi-year school plan.
Editorial summary generated April 2026 · sonnet
Who each school fits
JAMES BOWIE EL
James Bowie El fits families who want a top-1.7%-ranked Texas elementary with the smallest class sizes of the two — a 10.2:1 student-teacher ratio that maximizes face time with teachers. It's the better match if your child benefits from a tighter, less crowded environment and a PK–05 pathway with direct middle school transition after fifth grade.
CEDAR CREST EL
Cedar Crest El suits families who prioritize raw growth acceleration — a perfect 10.0/10 growth score — and want a school ranked #35 in all of Texas. It's also the practical choice if your child is in fifth grade and you want one additional year in an elementary setting before middle school, thanks to its PK–06 grade span.