Summary:
Zip code 77031 is served by two schools: Yes Prep - Brays Oaks, a public charter high school (grades 6-12), and Bell Elementary (grades PK-5), a traditional public school in the Houston Independent School District (Isd). Both schools serve highly economically disadvantaged communities, with over 87% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, but they show dramatically different academic outcomes.
Yes Prep - Brays Oaks is the standout school in the area, consistently outperforming state averages across nearly all subjects. Its state ranking has climbed from the 69th percentile to the 81st percentile over the past two years, earning a 4-star rating. The school excels particularly in mathematics, with 79.12% of students proficient in Algebra I compared to just 54.03% statewide, and it boasts a strong 94.1% graduation rate. In contrast, Bell Elementary struggles academically, with a state ranking in the 43rd percentile (2 stars) and test scores generally below both district and state averages. A critical concern is Bell's 5th-grade science performance, where only 10.29% of students were proficient in 2024-2025, far below the state average of 29.57%.
An interesting finding is that Bell Elementary actually spends $1,210 more per student ($11,435 vs. $10,225) and has a lower student-teacher ratio (14.1:1 vs. 17.8:1) than Yes Prep - Brays Oaks, yet its academic outcomes are significantly worse. This suggests that the effectiveness of instructional strategies and school models matters more than raw resources. Additionally, Bell's Spanish-language STAAR reading tests for 3rd and 4th graders have shown 0% proficiency in recent years, indicating a potential need for improved bilingual instruction. For parents, Yes Prep - Brays Oaks offers a clear path to strong academic performance and college readiness, while Bell Elementary may require closer scrutiny, especially in science and bilingual programs.
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