Ellen Ochoa STEM Academy at Ben Miliam Elementary

Grand Prairie sits in the heart of the DFW Metroplex, wedged between Dallas and Fort Worth, and Ellen Ochoa STEM Academy offers families in this working-class, diverse community a school with a focused STEM identity — a meaningful draw for parents who want more than a traditional elementary experience. The school's scores currently sit below state midpoints across English, math, and science, so families with high academic expectations may want to weigh that carefully, though the STEM branding and namesake — pioneering astronaut Ellen Ochoa — signal an aspirational direction. It could be a solid fit for families who are engaged and looking to grow alongside a school that's building toward something.