The top reported proficiency rate is 49% in English language arts. The lowest is 10% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Scroggins El
Scroggins Elementary serves prekindergarten through fifth grade in Houston. The school draws from a neighborhood that is overwhelmingly Hispanic and economically struggling: nearly all students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and the student body is about Hispanic with small populations of Black and white students. Total enrollment is small for its grade span.
Reading the state test results requires some care. The school reports on STAAR for grades three, four, and five in English language arts and math, and grade five in science. In English language arts across those grades, proficiency (meeting or exceeding the standard) ranges from about half the students in fifth grade down to less than half in third and fourth grade. Math proficiency is slightly lower, ranging from about mid-range in fifth grade to just under two-fifths in fourth grade and a quarter in third grade. Science proficiency in fifth grade is notably weak, with only a very small share of students meeting the standard. The school also reports that across all tested subjects, about three-quarters of students achieve at least the "approaches" performance level, meaning they demonstrate some competency even if they have not yet met grade-level mastery.
How does this sit relative to other schools in Harris County? The school's overall proficiency index places it above the midpoint among the county's districts, a meaningful position when the county encompasses both well-resourced suburban systems and schools serving low-income populations like this one. Readers should understand that this reflects the school operating in the context of significant economic and language-learning needs, not in comparison to affluent areas.
The neighborhood where Scroggins sits is part of Houston proper, a sprawling city without traditional zoning. Housing values in the immediate zip code have declined modestly over the past year, and rentals are rising slightly but remain affordable by metropolitan standards. The broader Houston region is among the fastest-growing in the country, though growth is increasingly shifting outward to suburban counties; Harris County's share of new housing permits has declined as development moves further out.
The school is part of Houston Independent School District, which has been under state control since June 2023 following a takeover by the Texas Education Agency. The district dissolved its elected school board and replaced it with state appointees. Control is set to return to elected leadership only after the district meets specific state criteria around campus performance, special education compliance, and governance. This means families at Scroggins have no elected local school board to appeal to; the district is governed by appointees. The takeover also introduced the New Education System (NES) instructional model, a standardized curriculum with scripted lessons, daily quizzes, longer school days, and tighter oversight. This model has spread to about a third of district schools and some elements have entered nearly all campuses. A parent may want to reach out to the school directly about whether NES approaches apply at Scroggins.
Additionally, the district recently voted to close or consolidate a dozen schools effective after the 2025-26 school year, citing enrollment declines and aging facilities. The district lost a large number of students between 2022-23 and 2024-25. Scroggins is not listed among those marked for closure, but the broader contraction is worth noting as a sign of the district's current state.
In November 2024 Houston ISD voters rejected a major bond package, the largest school bond ever proposed in Texas, meaning planned rebuilds, renovations, security upgrades, and facility improvements did not move forward. Aging facility needs remain unaddressed across the district.
For a family considering this school, the key questions are whether the school's current test performance, the state-run governance structure, the standardized instructional model, and the district's capacity to improve and maintain facilities fit the child's needs and the family's preferences.
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