Summary
Stevens Elementary in Houston, TX, is a PK-5 school in the Houston Independent School District (Isd) serving 556 students, and it has recently achieved one of the most dramatic academic turnarounds in the area, jumping from the 5th percentile to the 46th percentile statewide in just one year. After years of struggling in the bottom 10-15% of Texas elementary schools, Stevens has earned its first 2-star rating, driven by a massive 55-percentile-point improvement for Hispanic students, who now rank in the 58th percentile. This growth is particularly impressive given the school's high poverty rate (over 90% free/reduced lunch), and it now outperforms many nearby high-poverty peers like Highland Hts Elementary (6th percentile), Smith Elementary (23rd percentile), and Wainwright Elementary (25th percentile).
However, the school's progress is uneven. While Stevens excels with its Gifted and Talented program (71st percentile, 4 stars) and shows strong results for low socioeconomic status students (61st percentile, 3 stars), it struggles significantly with African American students, who rank in the 7th percentile (0 stars), and Special Education students, who rank in the 23rd percentile (1 star). Additionally, the school's STAAR Spanish test scores remain very low, with 5th Grade Math in Spanish showing a 0% proficiency rate, suggesting that students learning primarily in Spanish may not be benefiting from the same strategies that are driving English-language gains. There is also a growing gender gap, with male students (50th percentile) outperforming female students (37th percentile).
Located just 0.59 miles from the top-50, 5-star Oak Forest Elementary (99th percentile, 11% free/reduced lunch), Stevens operates in a starkly different context, but its rapid improvement makes it a standout among high-poverty schools. While Benbrook Elementary (58th percentile) still holds a higher rank, Stevens' rate of improvement is far steeper, positioning it as a leader in its "high-poverty cluster." For parents, this school offers a compelling story of growth and targeted success for many students, but it also has critical areas—particularly for African American and Special Education students—that require immediate attention to ensure all children thrive.
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