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Cunningham Elementary

Q: Is Cunningham Elementary a good school?

Cunningham Elementary ranks 2826 th of 4627 Texas elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

2826^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 4,627 Texas Elementary Schools

Better than 39% of Texas elementary schools

Summary

Cunningham Elementary is a PK-5 public school in Houston's Gulfton area serving 562 students within the Houston Independent School District (Isd), where over 92% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. This school has shown a clear upward trajectory, climbing from the 21st percentile statewide in 2018-2019 to the 39th percentile in the most recent data, though it still faces significant challenges compared to state averages and its more affluent nearby peers.

The most striking differentiator is Cunningham's exceptional performance with its African American students, who ranked in the 88th percentile statewide with a 4-star rating—a dramatic contrast to the school's overall rank and far higher than at nearby schools like Rodriguez Elementary or Benavidez Elementary. The school has also developed a notable "math-first" improvement trajectory, with math scores in grades 3 and 4 surpassing state averages in recent years, while reading scores have remained relatively flat. However, science scores are alarmingly low, with only 18.92% of 5th graders proficient compared to 29.57% statewide, a persistent weakness that hasn't improved.

Cunningham operates in the shadow of elite schools like Kolter Elementary and Condit Elementary, which serve affluent populations and achieve dramatically higher scores—for instance, 5th-grade math proficiency at Cunningham is 52.24% versus 74.38% at Kolter and 98.7% at Mandarin Immersion Magnet School. Despite higher per-student spending ($10,662) than these high-performing peers, Cunningham's results highlight the deep challenges of overcoming poverty. The school's improvement is promising but fragile, with recent dips in overall rank and performance for female students suggesting that consistent, school-wide excellence remains a work in progress.

562

Students ?

17.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$10,205

Per pupil spending ?

92.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

5100 Gulfton St
Houston, TX 77081-2906

(713) 295-5223

District: Houston Independent School District (Isd)

Students who attend Cunningham Elementary usually attend:

High:

Long Academy

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

74.4%

African American:

19.8%

Asian:

3.6%

See top rated Texas elementary schools

Compare Cunningham Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Recently slipping — 51st percentile in 2022 → 39th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Texas average (43% vs 50% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped from its 51st-percentile peak (2022) to 39th (2026)

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school43%

District avg51%

Texas avg50%

2,826^th of 4,627

Texas public elementary schools ?

Bottom 39%▲ up 25 pts since 2016

From bottom 14% (2016) to bottom 39% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Texas Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

101^st of 170Elementary Schools in the Houston Independent School District (Isd)

438^th of 951Houston 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	39.0	2826 of 4627	38.9%	★★☆☆☆
2025	41.8	2654 of 4651	42.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	46.7	2388 of 4710	49.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	45.6	2429 of 4647	47.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	48.3	2245 of 4581	51.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	40.1	2552 of 4578	44.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	27.1	3521 of 4479	21.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	27.1	3375 of 4359	22.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	39.4	2556 of 4329	41.0%	★★☆☆☆
2016	20.7	3698 of 4286	13.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	27.7	3453 of 4320	20.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	40.2	2897 of 4260	32.0%	★★☆☆☆
2013	41.1	2814 of 4221	33.3%	★★☆☆☆
2012	42.7	2727 of 4206	35.2%	★★☆☆☆
2011	42.3	2831 of 4095	30.9%	★★☆☆☆
2010	54.2	2106 of 3937	46.5%	★★☆☆☆
2009	46.5	2431 of 3884	37.4%	★★☆☆☆
2008	30.4	3102 of 3768	17.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	16.6	3477 of 3724	6.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	3.5	3457 of 3476	0.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2005	5.5	3436 of 3475	1.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2004	6.6	3415 of 3465	1.4%	☆☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	78.9	283 of 2406	88.2%	★★★★☆
2024	85.2	174 of 2443	92.9%	★★★★★
2023	51.2	1030 of 2443	57.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	76.0	349 of 2421	85.6%	★★★★☆
2021	55.7	855 of 2444	65.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	33.9	1800 of 2515	28.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	51.7	1057 of 2483	57.4%	★★★☆☆

At Risk

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2022	60.8	1363 of 4461	69.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	50.0	1827 of 4331	57.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	40.4	2644 of 4295	38.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	30.4	3339 of 4240	21.3%	★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2024	54.2	1459 of 3668	60.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	51.3	1610 of 3556	54.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	47.9	1771 of 3487	49.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	44.8	1774 of 3446	48.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	30.4	2660 of 3333	20.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	24.7	2817 of 3226	12.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	24.4	3795 of 4575	17.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	51.8	2076 of 4658	55.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	49.1	2223 of 4588	51.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	45.0	2466 of 4561	45.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	33.8	2943 of 4499	34.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	23.9	3683 of 4348	15.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	23.0	3674 of 4306	14.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	57.5	1609 of 3075	47.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	36.1	2388 of 2980	19.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	21.7	2662 of 2958	10.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	25.4	2456 of 3006	18.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	10.3	3087 of 3184	3.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	9.6	3019 of 3106	2.8%	☆☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	32.9	3267 of 4413	26.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	56.8	1678 of 4465	62.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	57.8	1601 of 4401	63.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	49.3	2138 of 4376	51.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	42.7	2403 of 4329	44.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	34.0	3021 of 4188	27.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	30.9	3203 of 4168	23.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	52.4	1956 of 4520	56.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	71.1	865 of 4594	81.2%	★★★★☆
2023	61.1	1439 of 4521	68.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	60.3	1460 of 4477	67.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	52.3	1865 of 4451	58.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	38.9	2862 of 4309	33.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	36.6	2934 of 4264	31.2%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	55.4	1794 of 4582	60.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	60.2	1568 of 4647	66.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	41.5	2669 of 4585	41.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	51.3	2091 of 4563	54.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	46.6	2164 of 4498	51.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	32.6	3169 of 4357	27.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	33.1	3039 of 4319	29.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	18.2	4115 of 4301	4.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	97.4	36 of 4292	99.2%	★★★★★
2022	44.0	1993 of 3952	49.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	32.8	2576 of 3799	32.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	51.5	1323 of 3558	62.8%	★★★☆☆

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)88th percentile+49 vs school

At Risk (2022)69th percentile+18 vs school

Male (2026)61st percentile+22 vs school

English Language Learner (2024)60th percentile+11 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)57th percentile+18 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2026)48th percentile+9 vs school

Hispanic (2026)26th percentile-13 vs school

Female (2026)17th percentile-22 vs school

Special Education (2026)4th percentile-35 vs school

By subject vs Texas (2025-2026) ?

Reading47%-8 vs state

Mathematics40%-7 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a citizen
Friday, November 13, 2015

The school has great music and enrichment program. A good education and it feeds to excellent middle schools. Close Quote

Schools Near Cunningham Elementary

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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 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 Spanish Reading 3rd Grade	STAAR Spanish Reading 4th Grade	STAAR Spanish Reading 5th Grade	STAAR Spanish Mathematics 3rd Grade	STAAR Spanish Mathematics 4th Grade	STAAR Spanish Mathematics 5th Grade	STAAR EOC Algebra I End of Course	STAAR EOC Biology End of Course	STAAR Reading 3rd Grade	STAAR Reading 4th Grade	STAAR Reading 5th Grade	STAAR Reading 6th Grade	STAAR Reading 7th Grade	STAAR Reading 8th Grade	STAAR Mathematics 3rd Grade	STAAR Mathematics 4th Grade	STAAR Mathematics 5th Grade	STAAR Mathematics 6th Grade	STAAR Mathematics 8th Grade	STAAR Social Studies 8th Grade	Total
Cunningham Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	5100 Gulfton St	Houston	77081	Harris County	Houston Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(713) 295-5223	562	32	17.2	92.9%	8 (1.4%)	111 (19.8%)	418 (74.4%)	20 (3.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.7%)	39	2826^th of 4627 public elementary schools	38.9%		41.8	2654^th of 4651 public elementary schools	42.9%	172		0.0							32.8	50.8	55.9				37.5	30.4	52.2				$10,205
Rodriguez Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	5858 Chimney Rock	Houston	77081	Harris County	Houston Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(713) 295-3870	917	51	17.9	97.9%	9 (1.0%)	67 (7.3%)	808 (88.1%)	30 (3.3%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.2%)	33.7	3173^rd of 4627 public elementary schools	31.4%		24.7	3744^th of 4651 public elementary schools	19.5%	571									44.1	23.1	33.1				49.2	39.6	49.6				$9,796
Amigos Por Vida-Friends For Life Charter School	Public, Charter	PK, KG-5	5503 El Camino Del Rey	Houston	77081	Harris County	Amigos Por Vida-Friends For Life Pub Charter School	Yes	No	(n/a)	Yes	(713) 349-9945	524	29	18.0	97.5%	2 (0.4%)	7 (1.3%)	514 (98.1%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	56.2	1798^th of 4627 public elementary schools	61.1%		73.1	998^th of 4651 public elementary schools	78.5%	800									40.9	55.1	72.1				49.3	46.4	47.1				$9,451
Services-Ninos Charter Elementary	Public, Charter	PK, KG-5	5815 Alder Dr	Houston	77081	Harris County	Services-Ninos Charter School	Yes	No	(n/a)	Yes	(713) 667-6145	512	29	17.8	95.5%	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.4%)	493 (96.3%)	15 (2.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	26.5	3659^th of 4627 public elementary schools	20.9%		37.9	2934^th of 4651 public elementary schools	36.9%	725	36.1	43.3		41.7	55.2				39.4	52.2	27.4				34.4	52.2	19.4				$11,462
Kolter Elementary	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	6300 Ave B	Bellaire	77401	Harris County	Houston Independent School District (Isd)	No	Yes	(n/a)	No	(713) 726-3630	771	43	17.9	23.6%	343 (44.5%)	94 (12.2%)	213 (27.6%)	79 (10.2%)	3 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	38 (4.9%)	89.2	414^th of 4627 public elementary schools	91.1%		95.8	152^nd of 4651 public elementary schools	96.7%	262									70.6	73.3	79.2				68.1	61.7	74.4				$7,884
Condit Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	7000 S Third	Bellaire	77401	Harris County	Houston Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(713) 295-5255	730	45	16.3	36.2%	260 (35.6%)	54 (7.4%)	248 (34.0%)	122 (16.7%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	44 (6.0%)	91.6	310^th of 4627 public elementary schools	93.3%		93.7	241^st of 4651 public elementary schools	94.8%	69	63.6	58.3	83.3	61.5	37.5	22.2			75.3	82.4	82.1				62.6	67.7	71.8				$8,227
School At St George Place	Public	PK, KG-5	5430 Hidalgo St	Houston	77056	Harris County	Houston Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(713) 625-1499	781	43	18.1	54.8%	128 (16.4%)	190 (24.3%)	335 (42.9%)	92 (11.8%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (4.5%)	62.9	1464^th of 4627 public elementary schools	68.4%		54.9	1852^nd of 4651 public elementary schools	60.2%	388									57.3	58.3	60.0				55.6	49.5	49.6				$8,234
Services-Ninos Charter Elementary II	Public, Charter	PK, KG-5	5919 Dashwood Dr	Houston	77081	Harris County	Services-Ninos Charter School	Yes	No	(n/a)	Yes	(713) 432-9400	246	11	22.5	98.8%	1 (0.4%)	3 (1.2%)	242 (98.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	33.5	3189^th of 4627 public elementary schools	31.1%		49.3	2182^nd of 4651 public elementary schools	53.1%	1007	18.2	23.1	45.5	9.1	15.4	36.4			12.5	30.4	65.0				12.5	45.5	50.0				$9,343
Mandarin Immersion Magnet School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-8	5445 W Alabama	Houston	77056	Harris County	Houston Independent School District (Isd)	No	Yes	(n/a)	No	(713) 295-5276	822	46	17.7	22.4%	94 (11.4%)	87 (10.6%)	149 (18.1%)	405 (49.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	86 (10.5%)	99	19^th of 4627 public elementary schools	99.6%		98.4	42^nd of 4651 public elementary schools	99.1%	23							96.8	100.0	93.4	89.5	97.4	91.2	86.9	90.1	92.3	96.5	98.7	80.2	84.3	58.0	$7,823
Benavidez Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	6262 Gulfton St	Houston	77081	Harris County	Houston Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(713) 778-3350	782	53	14.8	99.6%	32 (4.1%)	42 (5.4%)	515 (65.9%)	184 (23.5%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (0.9%)	10.7	4456^th of 4627 public elementary schools	3.7%		13.9	4338^th of 4651 public elementary schools	6.7%	118	14.3			18.4	25.8				21.4	18.5	27.4				20.9	37.8	32.9				$11,001

Frequently Asked Questions about Cunningham Elementary

How many students attend Cunningham Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 562 students attended Cunningham Elementary.

Is Cunningham Elementary a good school?

Cunningham Elementary ranks 2826^th of 4627 Texas elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of Cunningham Elementary attend?

Students who attend Cunningham Elementary usually go on to attend:

High : Long Academy

What district is Cunningham Elementary in?

Houston Independent School District (Isd)

What is the racial makeup of Cunningham Elementary?

Students at Cunningham Elementary are 74% Hispanic, 20% African American, 4% Asian, 1% White.

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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.