Best Schools in Princeton, Texas
11 schools · 6 Elementary · 2 Middle · 1 High · 2 Other
Choosing a school in Princeton?
Use this page to compare every school in Princeton by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Lowe EL
Elementary · Princeton ISD. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Southard Middle
Middle · Princeton ISD. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Clark Middle
Middle · Princeton ISD. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Princeton for 2026 are Lowe EL (8.2/10), Southard Middle (8.0/10), and Clark Middle (7.2/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 9 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
11
in this city
Avg Score
6.0
out of 10
Median Home
$307,500
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Schools
11
in this city
Avg Score
6.0
out of 10
Median Home
$307,500
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Rates 7.2/10 despite 67% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.7 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Princeton schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +4.0 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Princeton schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Princeton
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (9 of 11). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lowe EL | 8.2 / 10 |
| 2 | Southard Middle | 8.0 / 10 |
| 3 | Clark Middle | 7.2 / 10 |
| 4 | Smith EL | 6.8 / 10 |
| 5 | Harper EL | 6.5 / 10 |
| 6 | Lacy EL | 5.4 / 10 |
| 7 | Princeton H S | 5.3 / 10 |
| 8 | Godwin EL | 4.9 / 10 |
| 9 | Lovelady H S | 4.8 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 6.0/10
- Median household income
- $92,076
- Median home value
- $307,500
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 25%
- Avg commute
- 34 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 78%
27% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Princeton compares
Texas rank
#437 of 654
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.2
below Texas avg (6.3)
Median household income
$92k
124% of Texas median
Schools in this city
11
About Schools in Princeton, Texas
Princeton, Texas is home to 11 schools, including 11 public schools. The city's schools span 6 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high school.
With an average rating of 6.0 out of 10, schools in Princeton show moderate performance on the MySchoolScout composite scale, which blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
The highest-performing school in Princeton is Lowe EL with a composite score of 8.2/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.
Princeton is served by 1 school district: PRINCETON ISD. These districts collectively serve 8,688 students.
Princeton's community shows 25% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $92,076. The poverty rate in the area is 5.8%.
Browse the schools below to compare ratings, test scores, enrollment, and other key metrics. Use the filters to focus on specific school levels or types that match your family's needs.
Elementary Schools
6 schoolsMiddle Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 809 students · 6th–8th | 8.0 |
| 2 | 505 students · 6th–8th | 7.2 |
High Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,741 students · 9th–12th | 5.3 |
Other Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 637 students · 9th–9th | 4.8 |
| 2 | 364 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 3.6 |
Schools in Princeton
Princeton, Texas · 11 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$92,076
Median Home Value
$307,500
Median Rent
$1,867/mo
Population
28,931
College Educated
25%
Homeownership
78%
Avg Commute
34 min
Poverty Rate
5.8%
Community Profile
Princeton has a median household income of $92,076. It is an area where 25% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $307,500, with a median rent of $1,867/month. The local poverty rate of 5.8% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 34 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Texas
- Elementary
- 6
- Middle
- 2
- High
- 1
- Other
- 2
Resources
School District
Nearby Cities
Other Major Cities in Texas
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Princeton, Texas
How many schools are in Princeton, Texas?
Princeton has 11 schools, including 11 public and 0 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Princeton, Texas?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Princeton is 6.0 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Princeton, Texas?
The top-ranked school in Princeton on MySchoolScout is Lowe EL with a composite score of 8.2/10.
What is the best elementary school in Princeton, Texas?
The top-ranked elementary school in Princeton on MySchoolScout is Lowe EL with a composite score of 8.2/10.
What is the best middle school in Princeton, Texas?
The top-ranked middle school in Princeton on MySchoolScout is Southard Middle with a composite score of 8.0/10.
What is the best high school in Princeton, Texas?
The top-ranked high school in Princeton on MySchoolScout is Princeton H S with a composite score of 5.3/10.
How many school districts serve Princeton, Texas?
Princeton is served by 1 school district: Princeton ISD.
What is the education level in Princeton, Texas?
According to Census data, 25% of adults in Princeton have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Princeton, Texas?
The median household income in Princeton is approximately $92,076 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Princeton, Texas?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Princeton is 15.9:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Princeton, Texas?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
Related reading
- Best Public Schools in Texas 2026: Top-Ranked Elementary, Middle & High Schoolsbest schools
- Best School Districts to Move To in 2026: A Data-Driven Guidebest schools
- Best Schools in Austin, TX — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best Schools in Dallas, TX — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best Schools in Fort Worth, TX — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Texas Education Agency, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.