Gleason El, Houston TX - Test Scores & Data

Original Research by School Decision on Gleason El

Gleason Elementary is a small-to-mid-sized public elementary school in the Willowbridge area of northwest Houston, serving prekindergarten through fifth grade. The school sits within the Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District, a large, economically diverse urban-suburban district.

The student body is predominantly Hispanic, with substantial Asian, white, and Black representation. A notable majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting a economically mixed community. The school's enrollment spans all seven grade levels it serves, with roughly balanced class cohorts across kindergarten through fifth grade.

On state math assessments, Gleason's proficiency results show a clear upward trend across grades. Third-graders post proficiency below the district's median standing; fourth-graders move into the mid-range; and fifth-graders post proficiency in the upper-middle range for their grade. In English Language Arts, the school is stronger: fourth and fifth graders both reach proficiency above what would be expected, while third graders post in the low-to-mid range. Science results for fifth grade fall noticeably lower. Overall, the school's combined proficiency index places it in the top quartile among elementary schools in Harris County—a genuine strength. Across all tested domains, about half to more than a third of students reach the "meets" level or above, while the remainder fall into the "approaches" band.

This pattern suggests that Gleason has particular strength in reading and English fundamentals, especially in the upper elementary grades, while math and science present steeper challenges. The school's overall standing relative to its county peers is notably above median, but a parent may want to look into whether the school's supports, curriculum choices, and teaching approaches in math and science align with their child's learning style and needs.

The Cypress-Fairbanks district itself is navigating significant changes. In 2024-25, staffing cuts eliminated half the district's campus librarians as part of a budget closure, meaning schools now rely on roving district librarians rather than full-time campus library staff. The district has also experienced notable shifts in curriculum and library policy—initially removing chapters on climate change, vaccination, and cultural diversity from science textbooks before a November 2025 board election brought new trustees who voted to reinstate those materials. These swings, while now moving back to the original curriculum, reflect ongoing tension around what gets taught and how materials are selected. Meanwhile, the district lowered its 2025 property tax rate to its lowest level in decades, reducing homeowner costs.

Houston itself is experiencing rapid growth, with the metro region ranked first nationally for population increase. The Gleason neighborhood sits in a rapidly developing area, with substantial new single-family construction and apartment development ongoing. The housing market in the school's zipcode shows median home values in the mid-range for the region, rents slightly below median, and rental costs consuming roughly a quarter of household income. The housing market remains competitive but cooler than in prior years.

For families seeking a school where upper elementary students have demonstrated solid reading skills and where the overall academic profile exceeds most county peers, Gleason offers that positioning. For families prioritizing strength in math and science, or those closely tracking curriculum and library policy decisions at the district level, further conversation with the school may be warranted.

See more original research from School Decision →

Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 345%

School 45% · District 5% · ▲ 40 pts above district

▲ 5 pts above state median · ▲ 6 pts above county median

Grade 454%

School 54% · District 5% · ▲ 49 pts above district

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

Grade 557%

School 57% · District 0% · ▲ 57 pts above district

▲ 16 pts above state median · ▲ 17 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 352%

School 52% · District 0% · ▲ 52 pts above district

▲ 6 pts above state median · ▲ 10 pts above county median

Grade 463%

School 63% · District 10% · ▲ 53 pts above district

▲ 14 pts above state median · ▲ 15 pts above county median

Grade 562%

School 62% · District 63% · ▼ 1 pts below district

▲ 8 pts above state median · ▲ 10 pts above county median

Science

Grade 540%

School 40% · District 42% · ▼ 2 pts below district

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

This schoolCYPRESS-FAIRBANKS 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

English language arts

Grade 3Lower-income44%Higher-income65%21 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income34%Higher-income63%29 pp gap