Project Chrysalis Middle, Houston TX

Original Research by School Decision on Project Chrysalis Middle

Project Chrysalis Middle is a regular public middle school serving grades six through eight in the Leeland area of Houston, within Houston ISD. The school has a small enrollment, evenly spread across its three grades, with the overwhelming majority of students from Hispanic backgrounds and a substantial share qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch.

The school's test performance is notably strong. In English language arts, proficiency climbs as students advance through the grades, reaching a high proficiency rate in eighth grade. Across the school, most students meet proficiency in reading and writing. Math proficiency also rises through the grade levels, with solid results particularly in seventh and eighth grade. Eighth graders showed strong proficiency in science, and while social studies showed lower proficiency rates in eighth grade compared to other subjects, the pattern across all tested areas suggests a school where core academics are functioning well. Against other districts in Harris County, Project Chrysalis ranks in the top quartile for overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades, a meaningful positioning that reflects stronger than typical performance in this peer set.

The school is situated in a Houston context shaped by significant disruption and change. Since June 2023, Houston ISD has been under state takeover, with an appointed board replacing the elected school board. The state superintendent has implemented the New Education System, a standardized curriculum model with longer school days, scripted lessons, and daily quizzes, now present in many district schools and expanding to many others. This shift in instructional approach and school governance directly shapes what families experience: the school day is longer, pedagogy is more tightly controlled, and families have no elected local board to appeal to. The state takeover is set to continue at least through June 2027. Additionally, in February 2026 the board voted to close or consolidate twelve campuses after this school year due to enrollment declines and aging facilities, a decision that may affect transportation, school assignments, and neighborhood school access across the district.

Housing in the broader Houston area where this school sits has been slowly declining in value, with median rent also ticking downward over the past year. The wider Houston region is among the fastest-growing in the nation, but much of that growth has shifted to suburban and exurban counties beyond Harris County. These dynamics mean the immediate area may offer more housing availability and affordability than some parts of the region, though with the caveat of facilities aging across the district.

Data on staffing, school programs, discipline, and student support were not available, so a parent may want to look into these areas directly with the school to understand the full picture of what support and enrichment the school offers beyond core instruction.

See more original research from School Decision →

Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 663%

School 63% · District 39% · ▲ 24 pts above district

▲ 29 pts above state median · ▲ 30 pts above county median

Grade 773%

School 73% · District 35% · ▲ 38 pts above district

▲ 46 pts above state median · ▲ 46 pts above county median

Grade 878%

School 78% · District 43% · ▲ 35 pts above district

▲ 36 pts above state median · ▲ 35 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 673%

School 73% · District 51% · ▲ 22 pts above district

▲ 21 pts above state median · ▲ 24 pts above county median

Grade 785%

School 85% · District 50% · ▲ 35 pts above district

▲ 36 pts above state median · ▲ 37 pts above county median

Grade 891%

School 91% · District 53% · ▲ 38 pts above district

▲ 36 pts above state median · ▲ 37 pts above county median

Science

Grade 882%

School 82% · District 42% · ▲ 40 pts above district

▲ 40 pts above state median · ▲ 39 pts above county median

Social studies

Grade 860%

School 60% · District 25% · ▲ 35 pts above district

▲ 36 pts above state median · ▲ 38 pts above 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-income74%Higher-income67%7 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income83%Higher-income100%17 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income89%Higher-income100%11 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 6Lower-income64%Higher-income56%8 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income71%Higher-income90%19 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income74%Higher-income100%26 pp gap