William Velasquez El, Richmond TX

Original Research by School Decision on William Velasquez El

William Velasquez Elementary is a traditional public school serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in Richmond, located in Lamar Consolidated ISD, a district in Fort Bend County experiencing rapid growth. The school sits on Macek Road in a community of about five hundred students, with a student population that is substantially economically disadvantaged and racially diverse.

A substantial majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The student body is roughly evenly split between Hispanic and Black students, with a meaningful minority of white students and a smaller but present population of Asian students. The school does not report data on special education enrollment or English learner count, so parents seeking information on those supports should contact the school directly.

On the most recent state assessments, proficiency results are mixed. In English language arts, a modest majority of third graders met or exceeded the proficiency standard, with rates slightly higher among fourth graders and declining to about half of fifth graders. Math results are similar, with about six in ten third and fourth graders meeting proficiency but falling to about half of fifth graders. Science proficiency, tested only at fifth grade, is notably lower, with only about one quarter of fifth graders meeting the standard. Across all tested grades and subjects, about half of students overall reach proficiency. The trend data available shows that about four in five students at the school meet the "approaches standard" threshold (a lower bar than proficiency), but only about one quarter reach the "masters" level, the highest category. This suggests a school where most students are making progress but where gaps between partial progress and solid mastery are meaningful.

William Velasquez sits within Lamar CISD, which is managing one of the fastest-growing student populations in the Houston region. The district passed major bond referendums in both 2022 and 2025 to fund new school construction, a dedicated Career and Technical Education Center opening in 2026, and technology upgrades. Lamar CISD has held its property tax rate flat for three consecutive years, among the lowest in the Houston area, though individual tax bills may still rise due to county-wide property reappraisals. Families with students in elementary school should be aware that the district regularly rezones attendance boundaries as new campuses open; the district provides an online address-lookup tool to check zoning.

Richmond itself is a historic Fort Bend County seat on the Brazos River about thirty miles southwest of downtown Houston, increasingly defined by contrast between a preserved downtown core centered on Morton Street and rapid suburban expansion through master-planned communities like Harvest Green and Candela. The area is somewhat walkable in the historic downtown but relies on cars for most errands. Housing values in the 77469 zip code are modest relative to national benchmarks, with typical rents noticeably lower than mortgage equivalents. Major employers include OakBend Medical Center, Fort Bend County government, and manufacturing. Public transit is available through Fort Bend Transit's on-demand service and park-and-ride routes to Houston.

A parent considering William Velasquez should understand this is an elementary school in a growing district with an economically disadvantaged and diverse student body where about half of students are meeting grade-level proficiency benchmarks. Strengths in reading and math are more solid than in science. The school itself does not report its own attendance, discipline, or detailed staffing data, so parents may want to reach out directly about classroom size, teacher experience, and support services. The broader context is a district making substantial infrastructure investments and opening new schools frequently, which creates both opportunity and possible future rezoning for families who move into new subdivisions.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 359%

School 59% · District 27% · ▲ 32 pts above district

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

Grade 459%

School 59% · District 24% · ▲ 35 pts above district

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

Grade 549%

School 49% · District 13% · ▲ 36 pts above district

▲ 8 pts above state median · ▼ 10 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 362%

School 62% · District 31% · ▲ 31 pts above district

▲ 16 pts above state median · ▼ 2 pts below county median

Grade 464%

School 64% · District 43% · ▲ 21 pts above district

▲ 15 pts above state median · even with county median

Grade 555%

School 55% · District 33% · ▲ 22 pts above district

▲ 1 pts above state median · ▼ 14 pts below county median

Science

Grade 524%

School 24% · District 8% · ▲ 16 pts above district

▲ 1 pts above state median · ▼ 11 pts below county median

This schoolLAMAR CISD, 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 3Lower-income48%Higher-income75%27 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income56%Higher-income69%13 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income42%Higher-income70%28 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income53%Higher-income65%12 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income50%Higher-income65%15 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income33%Higher-income68%35 pp gap