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Cullen Middle

Q: Is Cullen Middle a good school?

Cullen Middle ranks in the bottom 12.8% of Texas middle schools.

Q: How many students attend Cullen Middle?

In the 2024-25 school year, 310 students attended Cullen Middle.

Q: What is the racial makeup of Cullen Middle?

Students at Cullen Middle are 77% African American, 18% Hispanic, 2% White, 1% Asian.

Q: What high school do graduates of Cullen Middle attend?

Students who attend Cullen Middle usually go on to attend Yates High School

Public Grades 6-8

2057^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,359 Texas Middle Schools

Better than 13% of Texas middle schools

Summary

Cullen Middle is a public school in Houston, TX, serving 310 students in grades 6-8 within the Houston Independent School District (Isd), where all students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

For years, Cullen has been one of the lowest-performing middle schools in the area, consistently ranking in the bottom 5-15% of Texas schools. However, the most recent data shows a potential turnaround. The school’s overall rank has improved from the 2nd percentile to the 13th percentile, and specific student groups have made dramatic leaps. For example, Hispanic students jumped from the 5th percentile to the 55th percentile, and English Language Learners improved from the 1st percentile to the 53rd percentile. A standout bright spot is Algebra I: 70% of Cullen students taking the exam were proficient, significantly higher than the district and state averages. This success contrasts sharply with other subjects, like 8th-grade Social Studies, where only 5.49% of students were proficient. The school also spends a high amount per student—over $15,000 annually—which is more than double what nearby top-performing Project Chrysalis Middle spends, yet Project Chrysalis achieves much stronger overall results. A persistent challenge is the school’s high dropout rate, which was 5.7% in 2023-2024, compared to the district average of 3.8%.

While Cullen has a long history of struggle, the recent improvements for its most vulnerable students and its strong Algebra I program offer hope. The key question is whether the school can replicate this success across all subjects and grade levels while addressing the dropout issue. For parents, this is a school in transition, showing early signs of positive change but still facing significant hurdles.

310

Students ?

11.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$23,564

Per pupil spending ?

100%

Free/discounted lunch ?

6900 Scott St
Houston, TX 77021-4851

(713) 746-8180

District: Houston Independent School District (Isd)

Students who attend Cullen Middle usually attend:

High:

Yates High School

Feeder schools for Cullen Middle:

Elementary:	Blackshear Elementary
	Foster Elementary
	Hartsfield Elementary
	Lockhart Elementary
	More...
	Peck Elementary
	Thompson Elementary
	Whidby Elementary

Racial breakdown:

African American:

76.8%

Hispanic:

18.4%

White:

2.3%

See top rated Texas middle schools

Compare Cullen Middle to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 2nd percentile in 2016 → 13th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 11 percentile points since 2016

✓Small classes — about 11 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Texas average (28% vs 47% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (13th percentile)

!Social Studies scores 26 pts below the Texas average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school28%

District avg48%

Texas avg47%

2,057^th of 2,359

Texas public middle schools ?

Bottom 13%▲ up 11 pts since 2016

From bottom 2% (2016) to bottom 13% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Texas Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

38^th of 41Middle Schools in the Houston Independent School District (Isd)

434^th of 947Houston Independent School District (Isd) 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	20.1	2057 of 2359	12.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	18.1	2069 of 2344	11.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	12.1	2228 of 2372	6.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	5.7	2288 of 2330	1.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	11.2	2138 of 2254	5.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	9.0	2193 of 2252	2.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	9.0	2110 of 2193	3.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	7.1	2021 of 2080	2.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	7.0	1982 of 2027	2.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	4.1	1944 of 1987	2.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2015	6.0	1957 of 2043	4.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2014	11.4	1870 of 1987	5.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	22.3	1687 of 1973	14.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	28.4	1542 of 1951	21.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	34.3	1540 of 1895	18.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	21.7	1637 of 1803	9.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	16.4	1647 of 1763	6.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	15.6	1601 of 1718	6.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	20.6	1492 of 1684	11.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	18.4	1413 of 1585	10.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	9.1	1507 of 1582	4.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2004	15.4	1441 of 1573	8.4%	☆☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	28.1	1017 of 1306	22.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	39.7	743 of 1280	42.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	10.9	1243 of 1273	2.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	19.4	1156 of 1251	7.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	17.4	1146 of 1213	5.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	19.0	1092 of 1193	8.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	14.5	1123 of 1167	3.8%	☆☆☆☆☆

At Risk

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2022	17.1	2065 of 2182	5.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	15.2	2077 of 2118	1.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	18.8	1939 of 2058	5.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	19.7	1901 of 2008	5.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	46.5	650 of 1403	53.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	18.3	1624 of 1770	8.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	10.9	1700 of 1720	1.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	17.3	1565 of 1643	4.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	23.4	1456 of 1592	8.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	15.3	1409 of 1445	2.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	25.9	1208 of 1376	12.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	20.2	1997 of 2263	11.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	20.5	1952 of 2242	12.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	7.4	2190 of 2241	2.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	13.2	2093 of 2221	5.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	9.1	2113 of 2151	1.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	9.9	1985 of 2047	3.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	5.2	1989 of 2008	0.9%	☆☆☆☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2018	0.3	1430 of 1430	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	49.7	961 of 2161	55.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	28.0	1660 of 2119	21.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	12.6	2007 of 2116	5.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	23.0	1765 of 2077	15.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	17.6	1866 of 2043	8.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	10.9	1882 of 1935	2.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	16.0	1792 of 1895	5.4%	☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	28.7	1783 of 2275	21.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	34.7	1535 of 2235	31.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	7.9	2205 of 2251	2.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	15.5	2081 of 2220	6.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	11.8	2114 of 2172	2.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	12.5	2001 of 2073	3.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	10.2	1991 of 2039	2.4%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	22.1	1950 of 2274	14.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	27.9	1716 of 2246	23.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	5.3	2211 of 2245	1.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	10.5	2134 of 2228	4.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	11.3	2086 of 2168	3.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	8.6	2016 of 2069	2.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	9.6	1963 of 2030	3.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	25.0	1760 of 1974	10.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	98.3	14 of 1891	99.3%	★★★★★
2023	15.8	1779 of 1815	2.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	22.4	1634 of 1757	7.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	27.0	1437 of 1712	16.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	17.9	1583 of 1626	2.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	22.4	1491 of 1597	6.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

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)

Hispanic (2026)56th percentile+43 vs school

English Language Learner (2026)54th percentile+41 vs school

African American (2026)22nd percentile+9 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)22nd percentile+9 vs school

Male (2026)14th percentile~ school

Female (2026)12th percentile~ school

Special Education (2026)11th percentile~ school

At Risk (2022)5th percentile~ school

Gifted and Talented (2018)<1st percentile-3 vs school

By subject vs Texas (2025-2026) ?

Algebra I70%+16 vs state

Reading42%-14 vs state

Mathematics16%-23 vs state

Social Studies5%-26 vs state

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What people are saying

by a parent
Thursday, June 11, 2009

Does anyone here have a child that attends Cullen Middle school? It is the most pathetic excuse for an educational facility I have ever seen. Is it really a wonder why kids drop out of school? It's because of schools like Cullen that kids have no desire to attend school. If I had to attend a school that rarely has a/c, the lights are out every other week, the food is disgusting, I am not being taught anything other than what is on the TAKS test, I am treated differently because I am not the principal's or the teachers pet, I am constantly belittled because I learn at a different pace than what they consider normal, I would be highly discouraged from wanting to go to school every day too. There is lack of communication from the teachers and the principal.

The teachers are suppose to motive and give constructive criticism. Instead, they belittle and put down the students using their personal situations against them; calling them ghetto and hood rats. If you teachers believe that these students are ghetto and hood rats, show them how to be the opposite! Set a positive example. Don't use those stereotypes to try and hurt them and make them feel inadequate. All children from the "hood" to the suburbs go through things and have problems. I will never understand why children who are from the "hood" have to be treated so differently from anybody else. You have kids from all walks of life that use drugs, gang bang and etc. just like you have kids from all walks of life that are on the honor roll, volunteer, respect their elders as well as themselves and so on.

I am so tired of the bull! Where's the equality? When will black children get a chance to get a decent education at their neighborhood school? Why should the parents have to lie about where they live and our children have to travel miles away from home to get a decent education and school they can be proud to attend? Close Quote

Schools Near Cullen Middle

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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 Spanish Reading (2026)	STAAR Spanish Mathematics (2026)	STAAR EOC Algebra I (2026)	STAAR EOC Biology (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 (2025)	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 Spanish Reading 5th Grade	STAAR Spanish Mathematics 5th Grade	STAAR EOC Algebra I End of Course	STAAR EOC Biology 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
Cullen Middle	Public	6-8	6900 Scott St	Houston	77021	Harris County	Houston Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(713) 746-8180	310	28	11.0	100.0%	7 (2.3%)	238 (76.8%)	57 (18.4%)	4 (1.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.0%)	20.1	2057^th of 2359 public middle schools	12.8%		18.1	2069^th of 2344 public middle schools	11.7%	12			70.0				44.3	36.7	44.8		19.8	8.5	19.4	5.5	$23,564
Attucks Middle	Public	6-8	4330 Bellfort Blvd	Houston	77051	Harris County	Houston Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(713) 732-3670	392	31	12.7	97.2%	6 (1.5%)	243 (62.0%)	132 (33.7%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (2.3%)	28.8	1778^th of 2359 public middle schools	24.6%		29.1	1765^th of 2344 public middle schools	24.7%	13			54.9	96.9			42.5	42.9	42.1		21.3	14.3	43.4	16.0	$18,276
KIPP Liberation College Preparatory	Public, Charter	5-8	5400 Mlk Jr Blvd	Houston	77021	Harris County	KIPP Texas Public Schools	Yes	No	(n/a)	Yes	(832) 230-0564	405	22	18.6	93.8%	5 (1.2%)	284 (70.1%)	106 (26.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (2.2%)	45.1	1212^th of 2359 public middle schools	48.6%		38.5	1441^st of 2344 public middle schools	38.5%	229			52.3			32.5	37.2	44.0	61.4	37.5	31.8	31.9		34.1	$8,111
Pro-Vision Middle	Public, Charter	6-8	4590 Wilmington St	Houston	77051	Harris County	The Pro-Vision Academy	Yes	No	(n/a)	Yes	(713) 748-0030	140	7	20.0	100.0%	0 (0.0%)	135 (96.4%)	5 (3.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5.5	2322^nd of 2359 public middle schools	1.6%		4.4	2309^th of 2344 public middle schools	1.5%	13							4.4	14.3	24.1		0.0	5.7	11.1	0.0	$9,669
Baylor College Of Medicine Academy At Ryan	Public, Magnet	6-8	2610 Elgin St	Houston	77004	Harris County	Houston Independent School District (Isd)	No	Yes	(n/a)	Yes	(713) 942-1932	306	25	12.2	70.3%	8 (2.6%)	179 (58.5%)	99 (32.4%)	15 (4.9%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.3%)	77.2	375^th of 2359 public middle schools	84.1%		81.6	301^st of 2344 public middle schools	87.2%	74			90.9				72.5	68.9	79.8		38.7	28.3	60.8	59.6	$13,668
Project Chrysalis Middle	Public	6-8	1820 S Lockwood	Houston	77023	Harris County	Houston Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(713) 924-1700	241	23	10.4	84.6%	3 (1.2%)	6 (2.5%)	228 (94.6%)	4 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	94.9	66^th of 2359 public middle schools	97.2%		94.1	79^th of 2344 public middle schools	96.6%	13			80.8				80.4	84.0	89.0		67.9		82.7	64.4	$14,028
Paul David Castro Middle	Public, Charter	6-8	2410 Hamilton	Houston	77004	Harris County	A+ Unlimited Potential	Yes	No	(n/a)	Yes	(713) 204-3837	156	5	30.1	77.6%	6 (3.8%)	79 (50.6%)	62 (39.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (5.8%)	35.8	1550^th of 2359 public middle schools	34.3%		33.1	1621^st of 2344 public middle schools	30.8%	71			25.0				25.8	45.3	57.8		25.8	29.4		17.8	$15,408
KIPP Intrepid Preparatory	Public, Charter	5-8	5402 Lawndale St	Houston	77023	Harris County	KIPP Texas Public Schools	Yes	No	(n/a)	Yes	(281) 879-3100	509	22	22.6	88.8%	7 (1.4%)	18 (3.5%)	482 (94.7%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	41.8	1343^rd of 2359 public middle schools	43.1%		30.9	1702^nd of 2344 public middle schools	27.4%	359			57.3			44.7	42.8	48.4	55.4	31.0	22.1	30.9	33.3	30.8	$8,859
KIPP Spirit College Prep	Public, Charter	5-8	11000 Scott St	Houston	77047	Harris County	KIPP Texas Public Schools	Yes	No	(n/a)	Yes	(832) 230-0562	532	20	26.6	91.5%	3 (0.6%)	384 (72.2%)	140 (26.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (0.9%)	59.7	765^th of 2359 public middle schools	67.6%		48.4	1128^th of 2344 public middle schools	51.9%	363			30.2			43.9	58.7	53.1	69.5	26.0	26.3	38.3		37.5	$8,128
Navarro Middle	Public	6-8	5100 Polk St	Houston	77023	Harris County	Houston Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(713) 924-1760	400	31	12.9	97.8%	7 (1.8%)	25 (6.3%)	365 (91.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.8%)	44.2	1243^rd of 2359 public middle schools	47.3%		28	1797^th of 2344 public middle schools	23.3%	554			87.5				53.4	49.0	52.3		30.6		48.8	18.6	$11,950

Frequently Asked Questions about Cullen Middle

What is the racial makeup of Cullen Middle?

Students at Cullen Middle are 77% African American, 18% Hispanic, 2% White, 1% Asian.

How many students attend Cullen Middle?

In the 2024-25 school year, 310 students attended Cullen Middle.

What high school do graduates of Cullen Middle attend?

Students who attend Cullen Middle usually go on to attend Yates High School

Is Cullen Middle a good school?

Cullen Middle ranks in the bottom 12.8% of Texas middle schools.

What district is Cullen Middle in?

Houston Independent School District (Isd)

Rate Cullen Middle!

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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.