Summary
Carroll Elementary in Houston, TX, is a mid-sized elementary school serving 568 students in 1st through 5th grade within the Aldine Independent School District (Isd), and it has recently achieved a remarkable academic turnaround, moving from the 6th percentile statewide to the 49th percentile over the past four years. This dramatic improvement is especially notable given that over 91% of its students qualify for free or reduced lunch, and the school now ranks in the 68th percentile for its effectiveness with low socioeconomic status students—a standout metric that far exceeds its overall rank and most nearby schools with similar demographics. For example, while Odom Elementary (also in Aldine ISD) has been a consistently strong performer, it has seen a slight dip from the 59th to the 50th percentile, whereas Carroll’s upward trajectory is unmatched among its peers.
Carroll Elementary shows a clear strength in mathematics, particularly in 4th grade, where 67.33% of students were proficient on the STAAR exam in 2025-2026—well above the district average of 42.51% and the state average of 49.28%, and the highest rate among all nearby schools, including those in the higher-performing Houston Independent School District (Isd). This success is driven by strong gains for male and Hispanic students, who have jumped from the bottom 10th percentile to the 55th and 54th percentiles, respectively, over the last two years. However, science remains a significant area of concern, with only 15.15% of 5th graders proficient in 2024-2025, lagging far behind the state average of 29.57% and schools like Goodman Elementary (34.69%).
Compared to nearby schools, Carroll’s improvement is school-specific rather than district-wide, as it outperforms its own district average in nearly every subject while competing academically with schools from Houston ISD, such as Durkee Elementary and Moreno Elementary. Interestingly, Odom Elementary—a smaller school with a lower student-teacher ratio (12.9 vs. 14.9) and higher spending per student ($12,347 vs. $10,179)—outperforms Carroll in most subjects, raising questions about whether Carroll’s recent success stems from efficient resource use or could accelerate further with similar funding. The school’s Spanish-language program shows mixed results, with strong 4th-grade math scores (42.86%) but very low 3rd-grade reading scores (9.62%), suggesting a need for a more cohesive bilingual curriculum.
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