Sam Houston State University Charter School, Spring TX

Original Research by School Decision on Sam Houston State University Charter School

Sam Houston State University Charter School is a public charter school serving kindergarten through sixth grade in Spring, a fast-growing suburban area north of Houston. The school operates under a long-term charter contract with the university, giving it operational stability through the early 2030s. It is one of three North Houston campuses run by the charter, with a fourth opening in Klein in fall 2026.

The school enrolls a small to mid-sized population spread evenly across its grade bands, with roughly equal numbers of students in kindergarten through fifth grade and a smaller sixth-grade cohort. The student body is racially diverse, with white, Hispanic, and Black students each representing a substantial share of enrollment. Free or reduced price lunch eligibility data was not available, so a parent may want to inquire about the school's population on that dimension.

State test results from 2024-25 show mixed academic performance. In English language arts, students perform reasonably well, with fourth and fifth graders in particular demonstrating solid proficiency, and sixth graders performing at a notably higher level. Third-grade ELA proficiency is moderate. Math proficiency is lower and less consistent: fourth graders show the lowest proficiency rate, while third, fifth, and sixth graders cluster at moderate levels. Science proficiency in fifth grade is notably low. Social studies results were not available for this grade band. Across all tested subjects, a modest majority of students approach state standards, and just over a third are reaching the highest performance level. A parent comparing this school to other districts in Harris County would find it positioned in the top quartile for overall proficiency, though this reflects the composition of tested grades and subjects.

The school operates in a location serving a demographic experiencing rapid residential and commercial growth. The surrounding area includes master-planned communities, corporate campuses including ExxonMobil's headquarters, and new mixed-use development. Median home values in the 77373 zip code are somewhat below the Texas benchmark, and rents have remained relatively stable. The housing market in this area leans toward single-family homes and newer subdivisions, making it a family-oriented setting with active suburban development underway.

A parent enrolling here would be choosing a charter school rather than a traditional public school district. This is a regular public charter, not an alternative school serving special populations, so it operates within the state's accountability framework. The school's long-term contract renewal signals stability. Whether a family's school needs align with this charter's academic profile, location, and educational approach would be a decision best made after visiting and speaking with the school directly about instruction, grade-to-grade progression, and how the school works with students who enter below grade level.

See more original research from School Decision →

Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 365%

School 65% · District 65%

▲ 25 pts above state median · ▲ 26 pts above county median

Grade 452%

School 52% · District 52%

▲ 11 pts above state median · ▲ 12 pts above county median

Grade 565%

School 65% · District 65%

▲ 24 pts above state median · ▲ 25 pts above county median

Grade 660%

School 60% · District 60%

▲ 26 pts above state median · ▲ 27 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 365%

School 65% · District 65%

▲ 19 pts above state median · ▲ 23 pts above county median

Grade 470%

School 70% · District 70%

▲ 21 pts above state median · ▲ 22 pts above county median

Grade 574%

School 74% · District 74%

▲ 20 pts above state median · ▲ 22 pts above county median

Grade 690%

School 90% · District 90%

▲ 38 pts above state median · ▲ 41 pts above county median

Science

Grade 535%

School 35% · District 35%

▲ 12 pts above state median · ▲ 14 pts above county median

This schoolSAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY CHARTER SCHOOL, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 3Lower-income59%Higher-income67%8 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income54%Higher-income75%21 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income50%Higher-income83%33 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income100%Higher-income86%14 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income53%Higher-income69%16 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income23%Higher-income60%37 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income14%Higher-income83%69 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income67%Higher-income57%10 pp gap