The top reported proficiency rate is 36% in Math. The lowest is 6% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Wainwright El
Wainwright Elementary serves prekindergarten through fifth grade in north-central Houston. The school enrolls a predominantly low-income student body: a substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and the enrollment is made up largely of Hispanic students, with a smaller Black population and a very small Asian presence. The school sits in a neighborhood characteristic of much of Houston, where residential and commercial uses blend together without traditional zoning boundaries.
The 2024-25 STAAR results show mixed performance across tested grades. In math, third grade proficiency is modest and fourth grade is notably low, though fifth grade rebounds to a more typical level. In English language arts, the school shows uneven results: third grade scores are quite low, but fourth and fifth grades perform at or slightly above the school's math level. Science proficiency in fifth grade is particularly weak, with only a small fraction of students meeting the standard. The school's overall proficiency index places it below the midpoint compared to other schools in Harris County.
The assessment data includes students tested in both Spanish-language and English-language versions of STAAR, which reflects the school's bilingual or dual-language student population. Reading the grade-by-grade results, it appears that performance varies noticeably by language of assessment, a pattern worth exploring further with the school itself about how instruction and assessment align with student language background.
One data gap worth noting: enrollment data on English learners and students with IEPs were not available, so a parent would want to ask the school directly about special populations and specialized services.
The broader Houston ISD context is substantial. The district has been under state takeover since June 2023, with governance now in the hands of appointed state leadership rather than an elected board. This means no local voter influence on district direction. The takeover brought sweeping instructional changes including the New Education System model, which features standardized curriculum, longer school days, and more frequent assessments. Those elements have spread unevenly across the district. The state takeover is set to continue through at least mid-2027 and will return to elected leadership only after the district meets specific accountability criteria. Additionally, Houston ISD voters rejected a major bond proposal in November 2024, leaving aging facility needs unaddressed. In February 2026 the state-appointed board voted to close or consolidate twelve schools, including some that will be absorbed into others, citing enrollment decline and aging infrastructure.
Housing in the Wainwright area reflects broader Houston patterns: median home values are below the state benchmark, and rents are moderate. Growth in Houston as a whole is rapid, but that growth is shifting increasingly to suburban and exurban counties further out. Harris County's share of new construction has fallen, and the metro's expansion is now concentrated in areas like Fort Bend, Montgomery, and beyond.
For families considering this school, the combination of low proficiency results, an under-state-takeover district with instructional model changes still rolling out, and unresolved facility needs would merit careful conversation with school and district leaders about academic supports, teaching approach, and where the school stands within the broader reforms.
See more original research from School Decision →