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5.9 avg / 10

Houston ISD School District

School District · Houston, Texas

Students: 184,109
Teachers (FTE): 11,785
Estimated Scores: 4%

Avg Rating

5.9

out of 10

Schools

274

178 elem, 43 mid, 46 high

Per-Pupil Spending

$13,072

Student-Teacher Ratio

15.6:1

District shortlistschools + peers

Evaluating Houston ISD?

A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge Houston ISD as a whole, then compare how its individual schools differ.

Compare schoolsTest scoresCompare Dallas ISD

Shortlist starter

Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.

Mandarin Immersion Magnet School

9.2/10

Houston · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.

Real test data+0.8 value signal Open profile

Project Chrysalis Middle

9.2/10

Houston · Middle. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.

Real test data+3.0 value signal Open profile

Kinder H S for Performing and Visual Arts

9.1/10

Houston · High. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.

Real test data+0.6 value signal Open profile

How this district compares

Texas rank

#614 of 899

districts by avg. composite

Vs. state average

-0.3

below Texas avg

Per-pupil spending

$13,072

+$104 vs Texas median

District size

184,109 students

Much larger than Texas median

The short answer

Houston ISD ranks #614 of 899 Texas districts by overall school rating. Houston ISD's schools with real test data average 5.9/10 across 262 schools. Its top-rated schools are Mandarin Immersion Magnet School (9.2/10), Project Chrysalis Middle (9.2/10), and Kinder H S for Performing and Visual Arts (9.1/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.

Best value · beats the odds
Neff Ecc

Rates 9.0/10 despite 97% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 3.5 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 Houston ISD schools.

Most improved · 2022 → 2024
Young EL

STAAR proficiency rose +26.6 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Houston ISD schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.

Top-Rated Schools in Houston ISD

Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (262 of 274). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.

# School Rating
1 Mandarin Immersion Magnet School 9.2 / 10
2 Project Chrysalis Middle 9.2 / 10
3 Kinder H S for Performing and Visual Arts 9.1 / 10
4 Energy Institute H S 9.0 / 10
5 Neff Ecc 9.0 / 10
6 West University EL 8.9 / 10
7 Debakey H S for Health Prof 8.9 / 10
8 Brookline EL 8.9 / 10
9 Eastwood Academy 8.9 / 10
10 Roberts EL 8.8 / 10

See all 274 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.

Compare districts
Best School Districts in Houston →
See how Houston ISD ranks against other Houston-area districts, with best-value and most-improved cuts.

About Houston ISD

Houston ISD is one of the largest urban school districts in the United States, serving 184,109 students across 274 schools in Texas. The district's scale means parents have a wide range of options, from neighborhood elementary schools to specialized magnet programs at the secondary level. Families researching the district should note that 272 of those schools carry ranked scores, with the district averaging 5.6 out of 10 — a useful baseline when weighing individual campuses against the broader pool.

High school options are where Houston ISD most clearly separates itself from peer districts. Energy Institute High School earns the district's top score at 9.0 out of 10, placing it among the strongest campuses in Texas. Kinder High School for Performing and Visual Arts follows at 8.7, offering a rigorous arts-integrated curriculum for students with focused creative ambitions. DeBakey High School for Health Professions rounds out the top-tier high schools with a score of 8.2, drawing students committed to careers in medicine and science. All three operate as selective programs, so parents should research application timelines and eligibility requirements early.

Strong options exist at the elementary level as well. Martinez R Elementary scores 8.4 out of 10, and Askew Elementary earns an 8.1 — both standing well above the district's 5.6 average. Parents zoned to these campuses have a measurable academic advantage heading into middle school, and both schools are worth cross-referencing against your home address during the enrollment process.

For families moving to Houston or reassessing school options, the gap between the district average and its top performers is significant. The 5.6 district-wide average reflects the challenge of serving a large, diverse urban population, but the ceiling is genuinely high. Energy Institute's 9.0 score, Kinder's arts focus, and DeBakey's health professions pipeline give motivated students access to programming that competes with any district in Texas. The key for parents is identifying which programs match their child's interests and starting the application process well ahead of district deadlines.

District Map

Schools in Houston ISD, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.

District Average Test Scores

Math Proficiency 56.9%
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 57.9%
School
State
N/A

Average proficiency across all schools in Houston ISD with test data.

Schools in Houston ISD

274 schools
Elementary Schools 178
Mandarin Immersion Magnet School
9.2
Neff Ecc
9.0
Brookline EL
8.9
West University EL
8.9
Roberts EL
8.8
Bush EL
8.7
River Oaks EL
8.7
Davila EL
8.7
Ashford EL
8.6
Eliot EL
8.6
Horn EL
8.6
Lovett EL
8.6
Oak Forest EL
8.6
Travis EL
8.6
Condit EL
8.5
Field EL
8.5
Kolter EL
8.5
Thompson EL
8.5
Twain EL
8.5
Deanda EL
8.5
Memorial EL
8.4
Sinclair EL
8.4
Wharton K-8 Dual Language Academy
8.4
Berry EL
8.3
Briarmeadow Charter
8.3
Burbank EL
8.2
Harvard EL
8.2
Helms EL
8.2
Tijerina EL
8.2
Arabic Immersion Magnet School
8.2
Parker EL
8.1
Martinez R EL
8.0
Young EL
8.0
Ella J Baker Montessori School
7.9
Pugh EL
7.8
Hilliard EL
7.8
Red EL
7.6
Cunningham EL
7.5
Cage EL
7.5
Poe EL
7.4
Crespo EL
7.3
Alcott EL
7.3
School at St George Place
7.3
Durham EL
7.2
Durkee EL
7.2
Windsor Village EL
7.2
De Zavala EL
7.1
Herrera EL
7.0
Mark White EL
7.0
Elrod EL
6.9
Gregg EL
6.9
Looscan EL
6.8
Love EL
6.8
Petersen EL
6.8
Moreno EL
6.8
Marshall EL
6.8
Lewis EL
6.7
Park Place EL
6.7
Halpin Early Childhood Ctr
6.7
Atherton EL
6.6
Janowski EL
6.6
Lantrip EL
6.6
Rice Sch /la Escuela Rice
6.6
Briscoe EL
6.5
Franklin EL
6.5
Roosevelt EL
6.5
Foster EL
6.4
Patterson EL
6.4
Carrillo EL
6.4
Ketelsen EL
6.4
Ray Daily EL
6.3
Harris J R EL
6.2
Henderson J EL
6.2
Mistral Center for Early Childhood
6.2
Elmore EL
6.2
Fonwood Early Childhood Ctr
6.2
Bastian EL
6.1
Herod EL
6.1
Sanchez EL
6.1
Shadowbriar EL
6.1
Blackshear EL
6.0
Burrus EL
6.0
Coop EL
6.0
Cornelius EL
6.0
Garden Oaks Montessori
6.0
Wainwright EL
6.0
Gregory-lincoln Ed Ctr
6.0
Seguin EL
6.0
King Early Childhood Ctr
6.0
Reagan K-8 Educational Ctr
6.0
Bonner EL
5.9
Dogan EL
5.9
Mcnamara EL
5.9
Energized for Excellence Academy EL
5.9
Robinson EL
5.8
Almeda EL
5.7
Macgregor EL
5.7
Oates EL
5.7
Rucker EL
5.7
Tinsley EL
5.7
Gallegos EL
5.6
Fondren EL
5.6
Mcgowen EL
5.6
Gross EL
5.6
Benbrook EL
5.5
Kennedy EL
5.5
Ross EL
5.5
Scroggins EL
5.5
Braeburn EL
5.4
Burnet EL
5.4
Smith EL
5.4
Lyons EL
5.4
Bonham EL
5.3
Briargrove EL
5.3
Highland Hts EL
5.3
Pleasantville EL
5.3
Cook JR EL
5.3
Shadydale EL
5.3
De Chaumes EL
5.2
Golfcrest EL
5.2
Peck EL
5.2
Bellfort Early Childhood Center
5.2
Hines-caldwell
5.2
Scarborough EL
5.1
Sutton EL
5.1
Whittier EL
5.1
Roderick R Paige EL
5.0
Jefferson EL
5.0
Lockhart EL
5.0
Montgomery EL
5.0
Bruce EL
4.9
Southmayd EL
4.9
Hobby EL
4.8
Isaacs EL
4.8
Kelso EL
4.8
Longfellow EL
4.8
Frost EL
4.7
Mitchell EL
4.7
Pilgrim Academy
4.7
Whidby EL
4.7
Laurenzo Early Childhood Ctr
4.7
Bell EL
4.6
Emerson EL
4.6
Hartsfield EL
4.6
Kashmere Gardens EL
4.6
Sherman EL
4.5
Walnut Bend EL
4.5
Crockett EL
4.4
Northline EL
4.4
Farias Early Childhood Center
4.3
Garcia EL
4.2
Benavidez EL
4.2
Port Houston EL
4.2
Neff EL
4.2
Garden Villas EL
4.1
Anderson EL
4.0
Askew EL
4.0
Osborne EL
4.0
Piney Point EL
4.0
Foerster EL
3.9
Grissom EL
3.9
White E EL
3.9
Rodriguez EL
3.9
Barrick EL
3.8
Browning EL
3.7
Law EL
3.5
Mading EL
3.4
Woodson School
3.3
Codwell EL
3.3
Reynolds EL
3.2
Harris R P EL
3.1
Henderson N EL
3.1
Martinez C EL
3.1
Valley West EL
3.1
Wesley EL
2.8
Milne EL
2.5
Shearn EL
2.3
Stevens EL
2.2
Middle Schools 43
Project Chrysalis Middle
9.2
Pin Oak Middle
8.3
Hogg Middle
8.2
Lanier Middle
8.1
Baylor College of Medicine Biotech Academy at Rusk
7.8
Black Middle
7.2
Burbank Middle
7.2
Forest Brook Middle
6.9
Edison Middle
6.8
Sugar Grove Academy
6.7
Secondary Daep
6.7
Lawson Middle
6.5
Hamilton Middle
6.5
Meyerland Middle
6.5
Baylor College of Medicine Academy at Ryan
6.3
Pershing Middle
6.1
Attucks Middle
5.9
Stevenson Middle
5.9
Hartman Middle
5.5
Key Middle
5.5
West Briar Middle
5.5
Henry Middle
5.3
Las Americas
5.3
Fonville Middle
5.1
Holland Middle
5.1
Mcreynolds Middle
5.0
H S Ahead Academy
5.0
Fleming Middle
4.9
Tanglewood Middle
4.8
Deady Middle
4.6
Ortiz Middle
4.6
Fondren Middle
4.5
Energized for Stem Academy Middle
4.5
Marshall Middle
4.4
Energized for Excellence Academy Inc Middle
4.2
Welch Middle
4.0
Revere Middle
3.8
Navarro Middle
3.5
Cullen Middle
3.4
Williams Middle
3.4
Clifton Middle
3.1
Thomas Middle
3.0
EL Daep
—
High Schools 46
Kinder H S for Performing and Visual Arts
9.1
Energy Institute H S
9.0
Debakey H S for Health Prof
8.9
Eastwood Academy
8.9
Middle College H S at Hcc Fraga
8.8
H S for Law and Justice
8.6
Carnegie Vanguard H S
8.5
North Houston Early College H S
8.5
Challenge Early College H S
8.4
East Early College H S
8.4
South Early College H S
8.1
Houston Academy for International Studies
7.9
Sharpstown International School
7.7
Energized for Stem Academy H S
7.6
Jones Futures Academy
7.5
Mount Carmel Academy
7.4
Young Women's College Prep Academy
7.4
Bellaire H S
7.0
Lamar H S
6.4
Heights H S
6.3
Westside H S
6.3
Mickey Leland College Prep Acad for Young Men
5.6
North Forest H S
5.6
Westbury H S
5.3
Wheatley H S
5.3
Worthing H S
5.3
Harper Daep
5.3
Long Academy
5.1
Chavez H S
5.1
Milby H S
5.0
Northside H S
4.8
Waltrip H S
4.8
Hcc Life Skills Program
4.7
Middle College H S at Hcc Gulfton
4.4
Furr H S
4.3
Kashmere H S
4.3
Scarborough H S
4.3
Madison H S
4.2
Sterling H S
4.2
Washington B T H S
4.0
Yates H S
3.7
Liberty H S
3.6
Austin H S
3.4
Wisdom H S
3.3
Houston Math Science and Technology Center
3.3
Sharpstown H S
3.2
Other Schools 7
T H Rogers School
7.1
Texas Connections Academy at Houston
4.5
Soar Ctr
4.4
Energized for Excellence Academy Ecc
3.4
R D S P D
3.3
Community Services-sec
2.5
Harris Co J J a E P
—

District Details

State
Texas
City
Houston
Total Enrollment
184,109
Teachers (FTE)
11,785
Child Poverty Rate
0.3%
Data Year
2023

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Houston ISD?

Houston ISD has 274 schools in total — 178 elementary, 43 middle, and 46 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.

What is the average rating for Houston ISD?

The average composite rating for Houston ISD is 5.9/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.

What is the per-pupil spending in Houston ISD?

Houston ISD spends $13,072 per student per year.

What is the student-teacher ratio in Houston ISD?

The average student-teacher ratio in Houston ISD is 15.6:1.

What is the top-rated school in Houston ISD?

Mandarin Immersion Magnet School is the highest-rated school in Houston ISD with a composite score of 9.2/10.

What are the test scores in Houston ISD?

Across schools in Houston ISD with test data, the average math proficiency is 56.9% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 57.9%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.

How does Houston ISD compare to other districts in Texas?

Houston ISD has an average school rating of 5.9/10 across 274 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in Texas by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.

How does MySchoolScout rate schools?

MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.

District Averages

Overall Rating
5.9/10
Math Proficiency
56.9%
ELA Proficiency
57.9%

Resources

🔍 Search for District Website 📄 Official NCES Data 🏫 GreatSchools Profile 📍 View on Google Maps

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 rate

Other School Districts in TX

Compare Houston ISD with neighboring districts in the state.

See all districts in TX →

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.

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