Summary:
The nine schools in Houston's 77021 zip code serve elementary and middle school students exclusively, with no high schools present, and are managed by the Houston Independent School District (Isd), KIPP Texas Public Schools, and the Beatrice Mayes Institute Charter School in a community where nearly 95% of students face economic disadvantage.
Thompson Elementary stands out as the top performer, earning a 4-star rating and ranking in the 74th percentile statewide, with 4th-grade math proficiency at 70.45%—far exceeding the state average. In contrast, Foster Elementary is the most challenged, holding a 0-star rating for three consecutive years and placing in the bottom 6% of Texas elementary schools, despite spending $11,839 per student. Among middle schools, KIPP Liberation College Preparatory significantly outperforms Cullen Middle, with a 48th percentile ranking versus Cullen's 13th percentile, and a dropout rate of just 0.4% compared to Cullen's 5.7%. KIPP Peace Elementary struggles in the bottom 5% of Texas elementary schools, while Beatrice Mayes Institute Charter School has the lowest economic disadvantage rate at 78.32%.
A key takeaway is that higher spending does not guarantee better results: Cullen Middle spends the most per student ($14,921) but ranks second-lowest academically, while Thompson Elementary achieves top marks with comparable spending. Both middle schools show an "Algebra I anomaly," where accelerated students score high on Algebra I exams despite low grade-level math proficiency. Overall, only Thompson Elementary exceeds state averages, highlighting the systemic challenges and the potential for success even in high-poverty areas.
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