Houston El, Austin TX - Test Scores & Data

Original Research by School Decision on Houston El

Houston Elementary is a small elementary school serving pre-kindergarten through sixth grade in southeast Austin. The school operates as part of Austin ISD, a large urban district serving the region's fast-growing population.

The school serves a student body with distinct demographic characteristics. A substantial majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating economic need among families. The enrollment is predominantly Hispanic, with much smaller shares of Black, white, and multiracial students. The school's overall enrollment is small, typical for an elementary campus in its grade band.

State test results show concerning patterns across grades and subjects. Math proficiency rates in third through sixth grades sit well below what would constitute strong performance, with rates falling sharply as students progress through upper elementary grades. English language arts proficiency is similarly low across tested grades. Science testing shows no students meeting proficiency in fifth grade, and social studies proficiency is essentially absent. When comparing this school to other districts in Travis County, Houston Elementary ranks in the bottom performance tier on the proficiency index, placing it far below the median among county schools.

Several factors may inform how to read these numbers. A substantial share of the school's students are learning English as an additional language, which the assessment data suggests by the presence of Spanish-language STAAR results. For schools with high populations of emergent bilingual learners, proficiency rates on early-stage assessments can be lower as students develop English academic skills, though Houston Elementary's numbers remain notably low even accounting for this context. A parent may want to inquire directly with the school about the literacy and math support provided to students acquiring English, the dual language program structure if one exists, and whether the school has data showing progress within grades or year-to-year growth trajectories not visible in proficiency snapshots alone.

The neighborhood surrounding the school reflects Austin's broader demographic and economic patterns. Housing costs in the 78744 zip code remain below the county median and have declined modestly in recent months, making this area relatively more affordable than much of Austin proper. The area itself is part of southeast Austin, a section of the city experiencing the effects of rapid regional growth but with pockets of economic vulnerability.

At the district level, Austin ISD faces significant structural pressures. In November 2025 the board approved closing ten schools before the 2026-27 school year in response to a decade of enrollment decline and a substantial budget deficit, even as the broader metro region grows. Houston Elementary was not named among the schools slated for closure, but the consolidation plan will reassign students across the district and relocate several dual language programs. The district also approved a property tax increase in November 2024 to fund staff raises and reduce budget strain. These changes create uncertainty about attendance boundaries and program placement, making it worth checking directly with the school about whether Houston Elementary's catchment area or program offerings will shift in the coming years.

Families considering Houston Elementary should understand that current test results are weak, that the school serves students with significant economic need and English language development needs, and that the district is undergoing substantial restructuring. The affordability of housing in the surrounding area and the school's small size are factual characteristics that may appeal to some families. Understanding whether the school has effective interventions and support structures in place, and what the specific instructional approach is for its bilingual learner population, would be essential before making an enrollment decision.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 322%

School 22% · District 9% · ▲ 13 pts above district

▼ 18 pts below state median · ▼ 16 pts below county median

Grade 417%

School 17% · District 8% · ▲ 9 pts above district

▼ 24 pts below state median · ▼ 16 pts below county median

Grade 59%

School 9% · District 47% · ▼ 38 pts below district

▼ 32 pts below state median · ▼ 29 pts below county median

Grade 60%

School 0% · District 35% · ▼ 35 pts below district

▼ 34 pts below state median · ▼ 30 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 38%

School 8% · District 12% · ▼ 4 pts below district

▼ 38 pts below state median · ▼ 37 pts below county median

Grade 414%

School 14% · District 58% · ▼ 44 pts below district

▼ 35 pts below state median · ▼ 30 pts below county median

Grade 55%

School 5% · District 63% · ▼ 58 pts below district

▼ 49 pts below state median · ▼ 45 pts below county median

Grade 65%

School 5% · District 55% · ▼ 50 pts below district

▼ 47 pts below state median · ▼ 40 pts below county median

Science

Grade 50%

School 0% · District 35% · ▼ 35 pts below district

▼ 23 pts below state median · ▼ 18 pts below county median

This schoolAUSTIN ISD, 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

Mathematics

Grade 4Lower-income22%Higher-income40%18 pp gap