Yellowstone College Preparatory

Yellowstone College Preparatory in Houston, TX, serves 321 students in grades 6-10 and operates as a single-school district, but faces significant academic challenges, with a state ranking consistently in the bottom 10% of Texas middle schools and a 0-star rating for the current year. The school serves a population with very high economic disadvantage, as nearly all students qualify for free or reduced lunch, yet it has a relatively low student-to-teacher ratio of 14.5:1 and per-pupil spending of $14,174—above the state average—which hasn't translated into strong outcomes.

The most striking differentiator is the extreme academic underperformance compared to nearby schools. For instance, Baylor College Of Medicine Academy At Ryan (0.55 miles away) ranks in the 84th percentile, and Project Chrysalis Middle (1.32 miles away) ranks in the 97th percentile, while Yellowstone sits in the 2nd percentile. Math scores are particularly concerning, with only 10.34% of 8th graders proficient in 2025-2026, compared to 82.67% at Project Chrysalis. Science and social studies proficiency rates are also dire, with just 4.48% and 8.96% of 8th graders proficient, respectively—the lowest among all nearby schools. The only bright spot is Algebra I, where 60% of test-takers meet proficiency, exceeding the state average of 54.03%.

Interestingly, the school has seen a decline rather than stagnation, dropping from the 22nd percentile in 2021-2022 to the 5th-8th percentile range in recent years. This decline is mirrored in subgroup performance, such as African American students falling from the 46th to the 7th percentile. Despite having more resources and smaller class sizes than higher-performing peers like Lanier Middle (20:1 ratio, $8,389 per pupil) and Project Chrysalis ($8,175 per pupil), Yellowstone’s results suggest challenges related to instructional quality or school culture rather than funding. The geographic proximity to high-performing schools highlights that these issues are specific to Yellowstone’s operations, not its location or demographics.