Summary:
This analysis examines six elementary schools in the 77546 zip code (Friendswood, TX), serving grades from PK-2 up to PK-5, and split between the high-performing Friendswood Independent School District (Isd) and the Clear Creek Independent School District (Isd).
The standout academic performer is C W Cline Elementary, consistently ranking in the top 4% of Texas elementary schools with the highest proficiency rates in reading and math, and a very low free/reduced lunch rate of 4.3%. Zue S Bales Intermediate is a strong, consistent performer in the top 7%, while Windsong Elementary is high-performing but shows a notable weakness in 5th-grade science (23.44% proficiency vs. the district average of 46.06%). Westwood Elementary also performs well within Friendswood ISD. In contrast, Wedgewood Elementary and C D Landolt Elementary in Clear Creek ISD face greater challenges, with lower rankings and higher free/reduced lunch rates around 52%. A key finding is that spending per student does not guarantee performance: the lowest-spending school (Cline at $8,793) is the top performer, while the highest-spending school (Bales at $10,399) is not.
Overall, Friendswood ISD schools uniformly outperform Clear Creek ISD schools in this zip code, highlighting a stark district-level divide. The "intermediate school" model at Bales (grades 3-5) and Westwood (PK-2) appears successful. A systemic weakness in 5th-grade science across multiple schools warrants attention. For parents, the data suggests that school district boundaries within the same zip code create vastly different educational experiences, with Friendswood ISD schools offering consistently higher academic outcomes.
Thank you for your feedback!