The top reported proficiency rate is 50% in Math. The lowest is 30% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Sherman El
Sherman Elementary is a small public school on Houston's north side, serving pre-K through fifth grade in the Houston Independent School District. The school serves a highly economically disadvantaged population: nearly all students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The enrollment is distributed across early grades, with most grades ranging from about fifty to eighty students. The student body is predominantly Hispanic, with a smaller share of Black students and very few white or Asian students.
Academic performance on state assessments shows mixed results across grades and subjects. In math, third graders are meeting proficiency at a modest level, while fifth graders show stronger performance. English language arts proficiency ranges from below average in third grade (on the Spanish STAAR assessment, where only a small number of students were tested) to roughly half of fourth and fifth graders meeting grade-level standards. Fifth-grade science proficiency is particularly low. Overall, when looking at proficiency across all tested subjects and grades, the school falls above the midpoint for proficiency among the county's elementary and all schools, though the proficiency index itself reflects work ahead. Looking across the full STAAR performance picture, students at Sherman are reaching "approaches" level (the foundational threshold) at respectable rates in most subjects, but fewer are hitting "meets" or higher levels. A parent may want to look into what support systems the school has in place for English learners and how the school is addressing the science achievement gap.
Sherman sits in a neighborhood with modest housing values in the broader Houston context. The immediate school community is characterized by dense settlement, mixed-use land patterns, and proximity to commercial corridors typical of the inner city. Houston's lack of traditional zoning means residential, commercial, and light industrial uses coexist in the area. The neighborhood is served by METRO bus routes and sits within the larger Houston metro region, which is one of the fastest-growing in the nation.
The school operates within Houston ISD during a period of significant institutional change. In June 2023 the Texas Education Agency took over the district, dissolving the elected school board and replacing it with a state-appointed board of managers. This takeover remains in effect through at least June 2027, meaning Sherman families have no elected local school board. The state has also implemented the New Education System (NES), a standardized instructional model with prescribed curriculum, daily timed quizzes, longer school days, and tighter classroom oversight; aspects of this model have spread across the district. Additionally, in February 2026 the board voted to close or consolidate twelve schools, though Sherman does not appear to be among those affected. Voters rejected a major bond package in November 2024, leaving aging facility needs unaddressed district-wide. Families considering Sherman should be aware that the school operates in this state-governed context and that district enrollment has declined substantially since the takeover began.
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