Summary:
This analysis examines six elementary-level schools in the 77096 zip code of Houston, Texas, all part of the Houston Independent School District (Isd), serving grades Pre-Kindergarten through 5th grade with a total enrollment of 3,940 students.
The schools in this area show a clear divide in academic performance and student demographics. Lovett Elementary is the top academic performer, consistently ranking in the top 15% of Texas elementary schools with a 5-star rating and test scores well above district and state averages. Parker Elementary also performs strongly, ranking in the 82nd percentile. In contrast, Tinsley Elementary faces the greatest challenges, with the lowest state ranking (26th percentile) and test scores far below averages. Elrod Elementary stands out as the most improved school, jumping from the 52nd to the 81st percentile in just two years, a remarkable achievement given that nearly 98% of its students are economically disadvantaged. Herod Elementary falls in the middle, ranking in the 64th percentile. Halpin Early Childhood Center is unique, serving only PK through Kindergarten with the highest per-student spending ($13,430) and the highest percentage of economically disadvantaged students (99.67%).
Key takeaways include that higher per-student spending does not guarantee higher test scores, as Tinsley spends more than Lovett but scores much lower. A notable strength is the bilingual programs at Elrod and Tinsley, where students perform exceptionally well on Spanish-language STAAR tests compared to district averages. Across all schools, 5th-grade Science scores are a universal weakness, with even top performers like Lovett (53.77% proficient) and Parker (43.06%) below the state average of 29.57%. This data reveals a diverse educational landscape within a single zip code, where schools like Elrod demonstrate that significant improvement is possible even in challenging circumstances.
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