The reported proficiency rate for English language arts is 61%.
Original Research by School Decision on Jefferson El
Jefferson Elementary is a small school serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in Houston, located in the Settegast area on the north side. The student body is predominantly Hispanic, with Black students and other groups present in much smaller numbers. Nearly all students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high-poverty enrollment.
State testing data is sparse. The school administered STAAR exams in Spanish and English across grades 3 through 5 in 2024-25, but most grade-level proficiency data did not publish—likely because the number of students tested in each grade was very small, making results not statistically reliable for public reporting. The sole published result comes from fifth-grade English language arts, where about three-fifths of the students tested met or exceeded proficiency. On a school-wide basis across all tested subjects and grade levels where data was available, the school's proficiency rate placed it in the top quartile among the county's districts.
Reading the broader pattern: the school has a meaningful share of students approaching grade-level standards across both English language arts and math. In ELA across all grades, about four-fifths of students hit the "approaches" threshold, though fewer reached the "meets" level. In math, the proportions were similar. Social studies results were notably weaker, with less than three-fifths meeting the "approaches" level and virtually no students reaching mastery. The data represents a single year and a small testing cohort, so trend information is not available.
The school is part of Houston ISD, which underwent state takeover in 2023. The district dissolved its elected school board and replaced it with a state-appointed board of managers, a change that remains in effect through at least 2027. Families should know this means no local elected representation and that the district is operating under state oversight. The takeover has brought district-wide instructional changes, including the New Education System (NES) model—a standardized, scripted curriculum with longer school days, daily timed assessments, and stricter classroom management. While Jefferson is not identified as a full NES campus in the available data, the broader instructional climate in Houston ISD reflects these priorities.
The district also closed or consolidated twelve schools in early 2026, effective after the current school year, citing declining enrollment and aging facilities. This is worth tracking to understand whether Jefferson's building or attendance area is affected.
The neighborhood around Jefferson is part of Houston's inner north side, an area characterized by mixed residential and commercial uses typical of the city's lack of traditional zoning. Housing values in the 77009 zip code are moderate for the metro area. The immediate area has modest economic resources overall, reflected in the school's enrollment composition.
As an early-elementary school, Jefferson serves a developmental stage focused on foundational literacy and numeracy. The school does not serve grades 6 through 12, so there is no graduation rate or high school pathway data to consider.
See more original research from School Decision →