Holland Middle, Houston TX - Test Scores & Data

Original Research by School Decision on Holland Middle

Holland Middle is a regular public school serving grades six through eight in Houston ISD, one of the nation's largest school districts and currently under state management following a 2023 takeover by the Texas Education Agency. The school serves a student body that is predominantly Hispanic and Black, with the vast majority of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, placing it in a low-income urban context where economic hardship is the norm rather than the exception.

On state testing, Holland Middle's performance is weak across the board. In English Language Arts, proficiency hovers in the low to mid-range across grades, with seventh grade showing the lowest attainment. Mathematics performance is similarly soft, though eighth grade edges higher than the younger grades. Science proficiency is particularly low, and social studies proficiency is among the lowest measures the school reports, with only a small fraction of eighth graders meeting or exceeding standards. The school sits below the midpoint among Harris County districts on overall proficiency. Beyond these tested subjects, data on advanced course offerings, electives, special programs, or after-school activities was not available. A parent considering Holland Middle should understand that this is a school where most students are not meeting grade-level standards on state assessments, and the school has not published trend data showing improvement. A parent may want to look into further detail with the school regarding its academic support systems, instructional approach, and any targeted interventions for students performing below grade level.

Houston ISD is operating under a state-imposed restructuring that began in 2023. The district has implemented a standardized instructional model called the New Education System at some schools, featuring scripted curricula, frequent timed assessments, and longer school days, though whether Holland Middle participates in this model was not specified in available data. The district also converted traditional libraries into multipurpose spaces at reformed schools and has closed or consolidated schools due to enrollment declines. Families should know that there is no elected local school board; the district is governed by state appointees and will remain so until it meets specified criteria. The takeover has been extended through at least June 2027. In November 2024, voters rejected a major bond that would have funded facility upgrades, so aging infrastructure needs remain unaddressed across the district.

The school is located in Houston's northeast area, in a zip code where median home values have declined and rental costs sit in the moderate range relative to incomes in the surrounding region. Houston itself is a rapidly growing, sprawling metropolitan area shaped by the absence of traditional zoning, resulting in mixed commercial and residential uses. The city has pockets of walkability, notably downtown and the Museum District, but remains predominantly car-dependent. Employment is anchored by energy, healthcare, aerospace, and logistics sectors.

Holland Middle's enrollment is small to moderate for a Houston middle school and is drawn almost entirely from lower-income families. State testing data were available, but no information on participation rates, chronic absenteeism, discipline policies, specialized programs, or staffing was provided. A parent or family member deciding on this school would be deciding on a neighborhood middle school with below-average academic outcomes in a district undergoing significant structural change, where elected board representation does not exist and where facility conditions reflect deferred maintenance from a failed bond vote.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 634%

School 34% · District 39% · ▼ 5 pts below district

even with state median · ▲ 1 pts above county median

Grade 726%

School 26% · District 35% · ▼ 9 pts below district

▼ 1 pts below state median · ▼ 1 pts below county median

Grade 844%

School 44% · District 43% · ▲ 1 pts above district

▲ 2 pts above state median · ▲ 1 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 641%

School 41% · District 51% · ▼ 10 pts below district

▼ 11 pts below state median · ▼ 8 pts below county median

Grade 725%

School 25% · District 50% · ▼ 25 pts below district

▼ 24 pts below state median · ▼ 23 pts below county median

Grade 835%

School 35% · District 53% · ▼ 18 pts below district

▼ 20 pts below state median · ▼ 19 pts below county median

Science

Grade 828%

School 28% · District 42% · ▼ 14 pts below district

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

Social studies

Grade 811%

School 11% · District 25% · ▼ 14 pts below 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.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 6Lower-income41%Higher-income20%21 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income25%Higher-income33%8 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income33%Higher-income100%67 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 6Lower-income35%Higher-income0%35 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income26%Higher-income33%7 pp gap