Sampson Elementary

Sampson Elementary in Cypress, TX, is a high-performing school serving 900 students in grades PK through 5 within the Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District (Isd), and it has consistently ranked in the top 3% of all Texas elementary schools for the past decade.

Sampson Elementary stands out for its exceptional academic performance, ranking 96th out of 4,627 Texas elementary schools (98th percentile) and far surpassing nearby schools. For example, its closest competitor, Hamilton Elementary, ranks 247th, while Robison Elementary and Farney Elementary rank 722nd and 727th, respectively. Even Wildwood Elementary from the neighboring Tomball Independent School District (Isd) ranks lower at 153rd. Sampson’s STAAR test scores are dramatically higher than district and state averages—for instance, 5th-grade Reading proficiency is 87.97% compared to the district’s 66.24% and the state’s 58.47%. The school also excels in supporting students with special needs, ranking 41st out of 4,301 schools statewide for this subgroup (99th percentile).

Despite its elite performance, Sampson has a notable anomaly: its Gifted and Talented (GT) program ranks only 1,123rd out of 3,075 schools (63rd percentile), a drop from the 92nd percentile two years prior. The school serves a relatively affluent community, with only 17.11% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, compared to nearby schools like Lamkin Elementary (70.62%) and Millsap Elementary (70.08%). Sampson also spends efficiently at $8,764 per student, less than many peers like Adam Elementary ($10,976), while achieving superior results, likely supported by strong community fundraising.