Elementary Schools in Pasadena Independent School District (Isd)

The Pasadena Independent School District (Isd) oversees 36 elementary schools serving grades PK-5 in a diverse, predominantly low-income area of Texas, where the district holds a 2-star rating and ranks in the 37th percentile statewide.

There is a wide range of performance across these schools. The top performers include Laura Welch Bush Elementary, which ranks in the 90th percentile with a 5-star rating and strong reading scores (over 71% proficient in 3rd and 4th grade). South Belt Elementary is another standout, ranking in the 83rd percentile (4 stars) and excelling in math, with over 65% of 3rd and 4th graders proficient. Moore Elementary and Sparks Elementary also earn 4-star ratings, with strong reading and math scores. In contrast, Jessup Elementary faces the most challenges, ranking in the 10th percentile (1 star) with only 29.63% of 3rd graders proficient in reading. Genoa Elementary and Young Elementary also struggle, with reading proficiency below 32%. Notably, Garfield Elementary showed a remarkable turnaround, jumping from the 7th percentile in 2023-2024 to the 33rd percentile in 2025-2026.

Key metrics show the average free/reduced lunch rate is 87.5%, with rates ranging from 48.26% at South Belt to over 96% at Richey Elementary and Jessup. Per-student spending averages $11,960, but top-ranked South Belt spends the least ($9,797), while high-spending schools like Burnett Elementary ($13,422) perform poorly. An interesting finding is the "Spanish test effect": schools like Garfield and Fisher Elementary show much higher math proficiency on Spanish STAAR tests (e.g., 87.5% at Garfield) compared to English tests, indicating that English Language Learners often understand math better when tested in their native language. Overall, the district has a few bright spots but many schools need targeted support.