Harris Elementary

Harris Elementary is a PK-5 school in the Austin Independent School District (Isd) serving 285 students in a high-poverty area, where over 91% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. The school has historically struggled with academic performance, ranking in the 6th percentile statewide, but a closer look reveals a complex picture with notable bright spots and stark challenges.

The most striking differentiator is the school's Gifted and Talented (GT) program, which ranks in the 92nd percentile statewide—a dramatic turnaround from the 2nd percentile just a few years ago. This elite performance stands in contrast to the school's overall struggles and suggests a highly effective intervention for high-achieving students. Additionally, Harris shows relative strength in Spanish-language instruction, with 4th-grade Spanish Reading proficiency (41.18%) doubling the district average and far exceeding nearby schools like Pecan Springs Elementary (6.25%) and Govalle Elementary (11.11%). However, a severe gender achievement gap persists, with female students ranking in the 23rd percentile while male students rank in the 2nd percentile—a much wider gap than seen at nearby schools like Blanton Elementary or Maplewood Elementary.

Harris spends $13,028 per student, higher than the state average and more than high-performing neighbors like Blanton ($10,142) and Maplewood ($12,708), yet outcomes remain low—a challenge likely tied to the extreme poverty concentration. The school is part of a cluster of five struggling schools within a 1.5-mile radius, including Norman-Sims Elementary and Oak Springs Elementary, all ranking in the bottom 5% of Texas elementary schools. This contrasts sharply with top-performing schools just 2 miles away, highlighting systemic neighborhood-level challenges. Year-to-year test scores also show significant volatility, common in small schools where a single cohort can swing percentages dramatically.