Summary
Garfield Elementary in Houston, TX, is a PK-4 school in the Pasadena Independent School District (Isd) serving 537 students in a high-poverty community, where 87.5% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. The school has a low student-to-teacher ratio of 12.4:1 and spends about $12,111 per student, slightly above the district average. After a significant dip to the 7th percentile in 2023-2024, Garfield has rebounded to the 33rd percentile (2 stars) in 2025-2026, showing a positive but fragile upward trend that sets it apart from nearby low-performing schools like Thomas Hancock Elementary (19th percentile) and Jessup Elementary (10th percentile), which have remained stagnant or declined.
Garfield's most remarkable strength is its exceptional performance in Spanish-language math, making it a "bilingual math powerhouse" in a struggling context. In 2025-2026, 3rd graders scored 87.5% proficient in STAAR Spanish Math, and 4th graders scored 64.3% proficient—dramatically higher than district and state averages. This is a consistent trend over three years, and no nearby school comes close, including the high-performing Laura Welch Bush Elementary (80th percentile), which scores only 36.2% in Spanish Math. However, Garfield's English-language math scores are very low (31.3% in 3rd grade and 26.3% in 4th grade), creating a stark contrast that drags down its overall ranking. The school also shows notable effectiveness with specific student groups, ranking in the 57th percentile for Special Education students and the 44th percentile for Low Socio-Economic Status students, suggesting strong support systems.
Garfield's performance in English Reading is closer to the district average and is a relative strength compared to its math scores, but the urgent need is for targeted intervention in English-language mathematics. The school has proven it can teach math effectively in a bilingual setting, and replicating that success for English STAAR Math exams could lead to substantial improvement. Nearby charter schools like Southeast Elementary (Yes Prep) and Beta Academy outperform Garfield in English Reading and Math, offering families viable alternatives. While Garfield faces challenges common to high-poverty schools in the area, its bilingual math program is a clear, replicable strength that could be expanded to benefit all students.
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