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KIPP Polaris Academy For Boys

Q: Is KIPP Polaris Academy For Boys a good school?

KIPP Polaris Academy For Boys ranks 1440 th of 2335 Texas middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public, Charter Grades 5-8

1440^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,335 Texas Middle Schools

Better than 38% of Texas middle schools

Summary

KIPP Polaris Academy For Boys is an all-male middle school in Houston, TX, serving 341 students in grades 5 through 8 within the KIPP Texas Public Schools charter network, where over 97% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. This school is in the midst of a promising turnaround, jumping from the 16th percentile statewide in 2024-2025 to the 38th percentile in 2025-2026—a 22-percentile-point improvement that outpaces nearby schools like Key Middle and Forest Brook Middle, which have stagnated or declined. The school also maintains a very low dropout rate, achieving 0.0% in 2022-2023, compared to 3.7% at Key Middle and 3.2% at Forest Brook Middle.

KIPP Polaris shows a clear strength in reading, with 7th-grade reading proficiency (51.32%) exceeding the district average and nearly matching the state average, while math scores remain a challenge, particularly in 6th grade (34.44%). The school is highly effective at supporting its most vulnerable students, ranking in the 58th percentile for both low-income and special education students in 2025-2026, earning 3 stars for each. Its per-student spending ($10,238) is lower than nearby traditional public schools like Cunningham Middle ($11,419) and C E King Middle ($11,127), yet it shows a stronger upward trajectory, suggesting efficient use of resources.

Interestingly, KIPP Polaris has a sister school, KIPP Voyage Academy For Girls, located just 0.04 miles away, which has a higher overall ranking (53rd percentile) and stronger 8th-grade reading and Algebra I performance. However, Polaris has shown a sharper recent improvement, creating opportunities for both schools to learn from each other. The school also expanded access to advanced coursework, with Algebra I pass rates improving from 18.92% to 41.77% in one year, though still below the state average. This combination of rapid gains, strong support for diverse learners, and efficient spending makes KIPP Polaris a compelling option for families seeking a school on the rise.

341

Students ?

16.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$10,191

Per pupil spending ?

97.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

9636 Mesa Dr
Houston, TX 77078

(832) 230-0567

District: KIPP Texas Public Schools

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

64.5%

African American:

33.7%

White:

0.9%

See top rated Texas middle schools

Compare KIPP Polaris Academy For Boys to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 29th percentile in 2021 → 38th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 9 percentile points since 2021

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Texas average (38% vs 48% meeting standards)

!Reading scores 14 pts below the Texas average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school38%

District avg41%

Texas avg48%

1,440^th of 2,335

Texas public middle schools ?

Bottom 38%▲ up 10 pts since 2021

From bottom 29% (2021) to bottom 38% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Texas Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

11^th of 18Middle Schools in the KIPP Texas Public Schools

587^th of 951KIPP Texas Public Schools among Texas districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	38.6	1440 of 2335	38.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	22.4	1958 of 2344	16.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	33.1	1639 of 2372	30.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	31.8	1669 of 2330	28.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	32.7	1543 of 2254	31.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	29.3	1606 of 2252	28.7%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	62.6	348 of 1295	73.1%	★★★★☆
2025	18.7	921 of 997	7.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	27.3	1018 of 1280	20.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	37.1	780 of 1273	38.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	41.9	666 of 1251	46.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	49.2	501 of 1213	58.7%	★★★☆☆

At Risk

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2022	49.1	909 of 2182	58.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	37.3	1332 of 2118	37.1%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2025	30.3	1068 of 1428	25.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	44.0	914 of 1770	48.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	49.0	755 of 1720	56.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	50.8	623 of 1643	62.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	38.1	977 of 1592	38.6%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	42.8	1181 of 2141	44.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	32.6	1250 of 1731	27.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	51.9	872 of 2119	58.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	45.6	1088 of 2116	48.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	42.9	1137 of 2077	45.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	36.5	1302 of 2043	36.3%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	51.8	948 of 2253	57.9%	★★★☆☆
2025	27.5	1467 of 1820	19.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	42.0	1255 of 2235	43.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	37.3	1465 of 2251	34.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	41.4	1287 of 2220	42.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	40.3	1287 of 2172	40.7%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	41.4	1292 of 2253	42.7%	★★☆☆☆
2025	20.7	1571 of 1818	13.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	32.8	1543 of 2246	31.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	32.7	1559 of 2245	30.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	35.1	1470 of 2228	34.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	32.9	1449 of 2168	33.2%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	46.4	831 of 1956	57.5%	★★★☆☆
2025	28.5	1246 of 1568	20.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	27.0	1545 of 1891	18.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	50.4	665 of 1815	63.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	36.3	1104 of 1757	37.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	22.8	1594 of 1712	6.9%	☆☆☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

African American (2026)73rd percentile+35 vs school

At Risk (2022)58th percentile+27 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)58th percentile+20 vs school

Special Education (2026)58th percentile+19 vs school

Hispanic (2026)45th percentile+7 vs school

Male (2026)43rd percentile+4 vs school

English Language Learner (2025)25th percentile+9 vs school

By subject vs Texas (2025-2026) ?

Reading42%-14 vs state

Algebra I42%-12 vs state

Mathematics36%-3 vs state

Social Studies22%-10 vs state

★

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Schools Near KIPP Polaris Academy For Boys

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				STAAR EOC Algebra I (2026)	STAAR EOC Biology (2026)	STAAR EOC English I Reading (2026)	STAAR EOC English II Reading (2026)	STAAR Reading (2026)				STAAR Mathematics (2026)				STAAR Social Studies (2026)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	STAAR EOC Algebra I End of Course	STAAR EOC Biology End of Course	STAAR EOC English I Reading End of Course	STAAR EOC English II Reading End of Course	STAAR Reading 5th Grade	STAAR Reading 6th Grade	STAAR Reading 7th Grade	STAAR Reading 8th Grade	STAAR Mathematics 5th Grade	STAAR Mathematics 6th Grade	STAAR Mathematics 7th Grade	STAAR Mathematics 8th Grade	STAAR Social Studies 8th Grade	Total
KIPP Polaris Academy For Boys	Public, Charter	5-8	9636 Mesa Dr	Houston	77078	Harris County	KIPP Texas Public Schools	Yes	No	(n/a)	Yes	(832) 230-0567	341	20	16.6	97.4%	3 (0.9%)	115 (33.7%)	220 (64.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.9%)	38.6	1440^th of 2335 public middle schools	38.3%		22.4	1958^th of 2344 public middle schools	16.5%	518	41.8				37.2	37.8	51.3	43.0	38.5	34.4	36.8		21.5	$10,191
KIPP Voyage Academy For Girls	Public, Charter	5-8	9616 Mesa Dr	Houston	77078	Harris County	KIPP Texas Public Schools	Yes	No	(n/a)	Yes	(832) 230-0567	368	21	17.8	93.2%	3 (0.8%)	120 (32.6%)	238 (64.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.9%)	47.9	1108^th of 2335 public middle schools	52.5%		34.8	1565^th of 2344 public middle schools	33.2%	457	44.2				35.6	50.6	46.7	59.0	26.0	16.1	50.0		25.6	$8,891
Forest Brook Middle	Public	6-8	7525 Tidwell Rd	Houston	77016	Harris County	Houston Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(713) 631-7720	546	41	13.2	98.7%	1 (0.2%)	316 (57.9%)	224 (41.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.7%)	36.3	1518^th of 2335 public middle schools	35.0%		20.5	2012^th of 2344 public middle schools	14.2%	494	83.1					38.7	48.0	48.8		40.3	23.3	41.8	13.5	$17,770
C E King Middle	Public	6-8	8530 C E King Pkwy	Houston	77044	Harris County	Sheldon Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	No	(281) 727-4300	1,359	83	16.3	86.3%	39 (2.9%)	359 (26.4%)	922 (67.8%)	12 (0.9%)	3 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (1.8%)	29	1757^th of 2335 public middle schools	24.8%		32.5	1647^th of 2344 public middle schools	29.7%	110	85.9					41.8	42.8	53.5		25.3	9.2	22.4	22.5	$10,366
Michael R Null Middle	Public	6-8	12117 Garrett Rd	Houston	77044	Harris County	Sheldon Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	No	(281) 436-2800	1,050	72	14.5	82.5%	43 (4.1%)	306 (29.1%)	673 (64.1%)	3 (0.3%)	3 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (2.1%)	40.6	1385^th of 2335 public middle schools	40.7%		31.8	1672^nd of 2344 public middle schools	28.7%	287	87.8					50.2	46.6	51.3		32.2	14.2	49.7	21.4	$11,328
Idea Lake Houston College Preparatory	Public, Charter	6-9	5627 S Lake Houston Pkwy	Houston	77049	Harris County	Idea Public Schools	Yes	No	(n/a)	No	(832) 844-4700	499	26	18.9	87.8%	7 (1.4%)	53 (10.6%)	434 (87.0%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.6%)	52.2	980^th of 2335 public middle schools	58.0%		54.5	932^nd of 2344 public middle schools	60.2%	48	35.9	53.4	55.3	64.1		45.0	55.4	66.4		35.1	26.9		33.6	$10,272
North East Stem Academy	Public, Charter	6-8	10918 Bentley	Houston	77093	Harris County	Raul Yzaguirre Schools For Success	Yes	No	(n/a)	Yes	(713) 640-3700	133	7	19.0	99.2%	5 (3.8%)	11 (8.3%)	117 (88.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	41.7	1339^th of 2335 public middle schools	42.7%		37	1489^th of 2344 public middle schools	36.5%	150	60.7					53.1	46.3	46.0		42.9		36.5	24.5	$12,410
Cunningham Middle	Public	7-8	14110 Wallisville Rd	Houston	77049	Harris County	Galena Park Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(832) 386-4470	802	62	12.8	88.7%	21 (2.6%)	276 (34.4%)	492 (61.3%)	3 (0.4%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (1.0%)	47.3	1132^nd of 2335 public middle schools	51.5%		45.2	1217^th of 2344 public middle schools	48.1%	85	100.0						51.1	52.2			31.7	56.7	15.1	$10,579
Key Middle	Public	6-8	4000 Kelley St	Houston	77026	Harris County	Houston Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(713) 636-6000	516	39	13.1	96.1%	14 (2.7%)	260 (50.4%)	238 (46.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.8%)	35.7	1542^nd of 2335 public middle schools	34.0%		30	1733^rd of 2344 public middle schools	26.1%	191	91.7					41.3	43.6	46.7		31.2	16.0	54.0	17.5	$18,740
Hambrick Middle	Public	6-8	4600 Aldine Mail Rt	Houston	77039	Harris County	Aldine Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(281) 985-6570	965	74	12.9	89.2%	16 (1.7%)	70 (7.3%)	874 (90.6%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.2%)	23.9	1945^th of 2335 public middle schools	16.7%		26.9	1841^st of 2344 public middle schools	21.5%	104	92.9					24.7	39.7	36.0		18.9	15.8	47.6	13.3	$10,795

Frequently Asked Questions about KIPP Polaris Academy For Boys

Is KIPP Polaris Academy For Boys a good school?

KIPP Polaris Academy For Boys ranks 1440^th of 2335 Texas middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend KIPP Polaris Academy For Boys?

In the 2024-25 school year, 341 students attended KIPP Polaris Academy For Boys.

What is the racial makeup of KIPP Polaris Academy For Boys?

Students at KIPP Polaris Academy For Boys are 65% Hispanic, 34% African American.

What district is KIPP Polaris Academy For Boys in?

KIPP Texas Public Schools

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Latest Texas data All new data »

2025–26 STAAR, STAAR EOC & STAAR Spanish test scoresJun 12, 2026

2021–22 through 2023–24 school spending dataJan 10, 2026

2023–24 dropout rates & graduation ratesSep 17, 2025

2024–25 STAAR EOC & STAAR Spanish test scoresJun 23, 2025

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Texas Education Agency.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.