News Summary
A recent report by the Texas Education Agency reveals significant disparities in STAAR exam results among fifth graders in Houston Independent School District (HISD). Wealthier schools typically outperformed those in economically disadvantaged areas. The report highlights how socio-economic status influences student performance, emphasizing the need for better support for underprivileged populations to improve educational equity. The findings have sparked discussions about the effectiveness of magnet schools and the implications of socio-economic disparities on academic achievement in the district.
Houston
Recent data from the Texas Education Agency reveals significant disparities in fifth-grade STAAR exam results across Houston Independent School District (HISD) schools, with wealthier campuses often outperforming their peers. The report was released on May 30, 2014, and highlights how socio-economic status impacts students’ academic achievements, particularly in elementary education.
Five schools, namely West University, T.H. Rogers, Roberts, Travis, and Twain, ranked among the top ten in all three fifth-grade subjects: math, reading, and science. These schools tend to have specialized magnet programs and serve a limited population of economically disadvantaged students, with less than 20% qualifying for free or reduced meals. In contrast, HISD has over 50 elementary schools with magnet programs, which account for 60% of the top ten rankings in the recent STAAR results.
The STAAR exam mandates that students in grades three through eight assess their knowledge annually in multiple subjects. For fifth graders, these subjects include math, reading, and science. Performance on these standardized tests is critical, as it determines annual accountability ratings for schools. HISD faces pressure to avoid consecutive failing ratings to escape state intervention and management.
Students are graded based on a raw score, representing the number of correct answers, and a scaled score that adjusts for question difficulty. These scores categorize students into four performance levels: “did not meet grade level,” “approaching grade level,” “meets grade level,” and “mastered grade level.” In 2025, only about one-quarter of HISD’s fifth-grade students managed to “master” grade level, achieving a scaled score of 1776 or higher.
Top-Performing Schools and Scores
Among the leading schools, West University Elementary achieved the highest average scaled score in the district at 1946. This school placed fifth in the annual Children At Risk ratings and ranked highly in both reading and science subjects. Following closely, Roberts Elementary recorded an average score of 1893, while the Mandarin Immersion Magnet School achieved an average of 1875.
In reading, nearly one-third of HISD’s fifth graders showed mastery this year, with T.H. Rogers School having the highest average reading score at 1859. West University Elementary also performed strongly in reading with an average score of 1849, the Kolter Elementary School showcased high achievement as well, particularly due to its foreign language program.
Challenges in Science
In science, the outcomes were less favorable, with only 11% of HISD fifth graders mastering grade level this year. Only two schools, West University and Kolter, surpassed the mastery threshold in this subject, reporting average scores of 4551 and 4410 respectively. Travis Elementary, which hosts the district’s Vanguard program, achieved just below these two with a score of 4370.
Understanding the Context
The data highlights a troubling correlation between the socio-economic status of schools and student performance on standardized tests. The majority of high-performing schools are situated in the wealthier portion of Houston known as the “Houston Arrow.” Notably, all 15 schools listed as top achievers are located in this affluent area. This raises concerns about equity in education, drawing attention to the effectiveness of magnet schools compared to traditional neighborhood schools.
Moreover, none of the schools performing well are part of the New Education System initiated by HISD’s state-appointed Superintendent Mike Miles, which aims to improve accountability throughout Texas schools. This information reinforces the ongoing discussion surrounding public education and the impact that socio-economic factors have on academic performance in Houston.
Overall, the results of HISD’s fifth-grade STAAR exams underscore the critical link between economic disparities and educational outcomes, sparking a call for initiatives that better support disadvantaged populations across the district.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
HISD Shows Significant Improvement in Student Assessments
Houston Students Show Improvement in STAAR Scores
Texas STAAR Assessment Results Show Mixed Performance
Texas STAAR EOC Exam Results Show Mixed Performance
Houston School District Extends Superintendent’s Contract Amid Controversy
Additional Resources
- Houston Chronicle: HISD STAAR Data
- Wikipedia: Standardized Test
- Community Impact: HISD Improvement
- Google Search: HISD STAAR Results
- Click2Houston: HISD Preliminary STAAR Results
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Education
- Houston Chronicle: Texas STAAR Test Results
- Google News: STAAR Test Results Texas
