The top reported proficiency rate is 36% in English language arts. The lowest is 6% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Harris R P El
Harris R P Elementary is a small public school in Houston ISD serving prekindergarten through fifth grade. It sits in a south Houston location and enrolls a student body that is substantially Hispanic, with a large share of Black students, and a very small number of Asian and white students. Nearly all students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating high economic need.
The school's academic results are weak across the board. In math, students show variable performance by grade: third graders scored very low, fourth graders near the bottom of the range, and fifth graders at zero proficiency. In English language arts, third-grade proficiency sits modestly below the median for the state, fourth grade falls to low proficiency, and fifth grade reaches closer to the state's middle range. Science proficiency in fifth grade is minimal. Overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades falls in the bottom quartile relative to other schools in Harris County. A parent may want to look into this further with the school: performance is consistently below the county median, and results on state standardized tests show students struggling across subjects.
The school serves only elementary grades, so there is no graduation rate data. Enrollment sits at about one-third of typical elementary school size. The school's student population is heavily concentrated in one ethnic group and defined by economic hardship, reflecting the neighborhood's demographic makeup.
Houston ISD is currently under state control, with an appointed board of managers and superintendent replacing the elected school board as of June 2023; this governance structure is set to continue through at least June 2027 under state-defined benchmarks. Parents thus have no elected local school board to advocate through. The district has introduced a major instructional model called the New Education System (NES) to many of its schools, featuring standardized scripted curricula, timed daily quizzes, longer school days, and tighter oversight; NES schools receive substantially more funding per student. The district also converted libraries at some reformed schools into spaces partly used for students with behavioral issues, eliminating traditional librarian positions. In November 2024 voters rejected a major bond package, leaving aging facility needs unaddressed across the district. In February 2026 the district announced closures and consolidations of twelve schools due to declining enrollment and aging infrastructure; families should confirm the status and potential impact on this school.
The area around Harris R P Elementary is Houston, a sprawling city without traditional zoning that mixes residential, commercial, and industrial uses. Housing values in the school's zip code are modest and have declined slightly over the past year. Median rents have inched upward. Houston is among the fastest-growing major U.S. metro regions and is experiencing heavy construction, though growth is increasingly shifting to suburbs farther from the core while Harris County's share of new housing permits has fallen. The city offers walkable pockets such as downtown and the Museum District, though most neighborhoods are car-dependent. Major employers anchor the economy in energy, healthcare, aerospace, and logistics.
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