Mcgowen El, Houston TX - Test Scores & Data

Original Research by School Decision on Mcgowen El

McGOWEN EL is a small public elementary school serving pre-K through fifth grade in the northeast Houston neighborhood where the school is located. The school draws most of its student body from the immediate area, and the enrollment composition is predominantly Black and Hispanic, with a substantial share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch.

On state assessments, McGOWEN EL's proficiency across math and reading falls below the midpoint when compared to other schools within Harris County districts. In math, third-grade students showed the lowest proficiency, while fourth-grade performance was somewhat stronger. Reading proficiency was similarly distributed, with fourth grade performing best among the grades tested. Science proficiency in fifth grade was particularly low. The school's performance metrics suggest that students are struggling with grade-level academic demands; parents may want to look further into the specific instructional supports and interventions in place, especially in science and at the third-grade level.

Overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades positions the school above the midpoint among Harris County district schools, meaning there is variation in how different grades and subjects perform here. The school offers the standard elementary curriculum typical of public schools in Houston ISD.

The broader context matters. Houston ISD has undergone significant governance and instructional changes since the Texas Education Agency took over in 2023, replacing the elected school board with state appointees. The district introduced the New Education System model with a standardized, district-mandated curriculum, longer school days, and daily timed assessments at some campuses. Additionally, in November 2024 Houston ISD voters rejected a major bond package, leaving facility needs unaddressed, and in February 2026 the state-appointed board voted to close or consolidate twelve schools, citing declining enrollment and aging infrastructure. Families should understand that McGOWEN EL operates within a district in transition under state governance, and that neighborhood school closures and instructional shifts are ongoing realities.

Housing in the 77028 zip code is modestly priced relative to Houston-area averages, with median home values lower than the broader Harris County market and rents correspondingly modest. The area is part of the fast-growing Houston metro region, though like the broader district, experiencing enrollment decline.

McGOWEN EL is one option among many in Houston ISD. Its test results show meaningful academic gaps, particularly in science and early elementary grades. This is a school where families prioritizing robust academic proficiency in core subjects may want to investigate further what tutoring, intervention, or enrichment structures exist. It is also a school operating under state oversight and within a district managing significant structural changes, which shapes the environment and services available.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 328%

School 28% · District 47% · ▼ 19 pts below district

▼ 12 pts below state median · ▼ 11 pts below county median

Grade 448%

School 48% · District 46% · ▲ 2 pts above district

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

Grade 543%

School 43% · District 26% · ▲ 17 pts above district

▲ 2 pts above state median · ▲ 3 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 331%

School 31% · District 23% · ▲ 8 pts above district

▼ 15 pts below state median · ▼ 11 pts below county median

Grade 457%

School 57% · District 52% · ▲ 5 pts above district

▲ 8 pts above state median · ▲ 9 pts above county median

Grade 540%

School 40% · District 26% · ▲ 14 pts above district

▼ 14 pts below state median · ▼ 12 pts below county median

Science

Grade 510%

School 10% · District 3% · ▲ 7 pts above district

▼ 13 pts below state median · ▼ 11 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.