Ashford El, Houston TX - Test Scores & Data

Original Research by School Decision on Ashford El

Ashford Elementary sits in southwestern Houston in a pocket of substantial socioeconomic challenge. Nearly all students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and the student body is predominantly Black and Hispanic, with smaller Asian and white populations. The school draws about that size for an elementary school serving pre-K through fifth grade.

On state assessments, Ashford shows uneven performance. Math proficiency hovers in the low to mid-range across third, fourth, and fifth grades, with roughly half of third graders meeting the standard but the rate dropping into the low-to-mid range for fourth and fifth. Reading proficiency on the English language STAAR is similarly modest in third grade but rises to solid standing in fourth and fifth. A small cohort of students tested in Spanish shows low proficiency in third and fifth grade but markedly higher performance in fourth. Science at fifth grade is notably weak, with only a small share of students proficient. Across all subjects and grades combined, the school sits above the midpoint of proficiency when compared to other Harris County districts, which provides some context but does not erase the reality that absolute proficiency rates are modest in most tested areas.

The school feeds into Houston ISD, which is operating under state takeover. Since June 2023 the Texas Education Agency has dissolved the elected school board and installed a state-appointed board of managers. This structure remains in place through at least June 2027 and means families have no elected local school board voice. The district has implemented the New Education System (NES)—a standardized, prescriptive instructional model with timed daily quizzes, longer school days, and scripted lessons. Ashford does not appear to be an NES school based on available data, but the model has spread to many campuses and its structures influence the broader district environment.

In November 2024, Houston ISD voters rejected a large bond package meant to fund school rebuilds, renovations, security upgrades, and technology improvements. That failure leaves aging facilities needs unaddressed across the district. More recently, the state-appointed board voted to close or consolidate a dozen campuses effective after the 2025-26 school year due to declining enrollment and aging infrastructure. Parents may want to confirm whether Ashford remains open and operating under current plans.

The neighborhood is part of Houston's sprawling urban footprint. Housing values in the school's zip code are moderate by metro standards. The area has limited traditional walkability but is home to some parks and community resources, and METRO transit serves the broader region.

For a family considering Ashford, the picture is of a school serving a high-poverty, diverse population with modest baseline academic proficiency, operating within a district in transition under state control, facing uncertainty over facility conditions and campus viability. A parent may want to look into Ashford's specific standing in the closure and consolidation announcement, the school's current instructional focus, and what support systems are in place for foundational skills.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 350%

School 50% · District 47% · ▲ 3 pts above district

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

Grade 441%

School 41% · District 46% · ▼ 5 pts below district

even with state median · ▲ 1 pts above county median

Grade 542%

School 42% · District 26% · ▲ 16 pts above district

▲ 1 pts above state median · ▲ 2 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 333%

School 33% · District 23% · ▲ 10 pts above district

▼ 13 pts below state median · ▼ 9 pts below county median

Grade 475%

School 75% · District 52% · ▲ 23 pts above district

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

Grade 537%

School 37% · District 26% · ▲ 11 pts above district

▼ 17 pts below state median · ▼ 15 pts below county median

Science

Grade 518%

School 18% · District 3% · ▲ 15 pts above district

▼ 5 pts below state median · ▼ 3 pts below county median

This schoolHOUSTON 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-income39%Higher-income55%16 pp gap