Southside Elementary

Southside Elementary is a public charter school in Houston, TX, serving approximately 500 students in grades PK through 5 as part of the Yes Prep Public Schools Inc district, located in a high-poverty area where over 95% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. The school has received a 1-star rating and consistently ranks in the bottom 22nd percentile statewide, which is notably lower than nearby schools like Brookline Elementary (84th percentile) and Gregg Elementary (68th percentile), both of which serve similarly high-poverty populations but achieve much stronger results.

A standout bright spot is 5th Grade Reading, where 50% of students were proficient in the 2025-2026 school year—significantly higher than the school's own 3rd and 4th grade reading scores (around 30% and 33%, respectively) and outperforming nearby Hartsfield Elementary (36%) and Foster Elementary (39%). However, performance across other subjects and grades is inconsistent; for example, 4th Grade Math proficiency jumped from 27% to 48% over two years, while 3rd Grade Math dropped from 38% to 29% in the same period, suggesting that individual teachers or grade-level programs drive results more than a unified school-wide strategy.

The school has shown a dramatic improvement in serving its Hispanic students, with their ranking jumping from the 9th percentile to the 35th percentile over two years, while effectiveness for African American students declined from the 41st to the 27th percentile. This divergence highlights a need for balanced support across all student groups. Nearby Brookline Elementary (0.47 miles away) proves that high poverty does not dictate low performance, with proficiency rates in the 60-77% range across all subjects, offering a powerful local benchmark for Southside to aspire to.