Summary:
This analysis examines four elementary schools in the 77071 zip code of Houston, Texas, serving grades PK-5, where three schools belong to the Houston Independent School District (Isd) and one is a charter school, Step Charter III, in an area characterized by a high-needs student population.
The standout school in this area is Gross Elementary, which has achieved a remarkable academic turnaround. Its state ranking percentile soared from the 29th percentile to the 66th percentile in just two years, making it the highest-ranked school in the zip code. Gross excels in Mathematics, with 5th-grade math proficiency at 70%, significantly outperforming both district and state averages. Its Spanish-language program is also a major strength, with 3rd-grade Spanish Math proficiency reaching 73.33%. In contrast, Milne Elementary struggles, holding the lowest state ranking (44th percentile) among HISD schools and posting very low 5th-grade Science scores (9.59%). Valley West Elementary shows consistent strength in Reading, with 4th and 5th-grade scores often above district averages, and has improved its ranking from the 14th to the 41st percentile. Step Charter III, with only 76 students and a lower poverty rate, shows mixed results, with excellent 3rd-grade Math (66.67%) but significant drops in 4th grade.
Key metrics reveal that all schools serve a very high percentage of economically disadvantaged students, with three schools exceeding 90% free/reduced lunch eligibility. Student-teacher ratios are favorable, ranging from 10.3:1 at Step Charter III to 15.5:1 at Milne. A universal weakness across the area is 5th-grade Science, with scores like 21.21% at Valley West and 12.9% at Gross in 2024-2025. Overall, Gross Elementary stands out as the top performer, demonstrating that high academic achievement is possible despite significant economic challenges, while Milne Elementary requires targeted support, particularly in Science.
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