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Below Average

#7055 of 8,552 schools in TX

Helen Major EL

Elementary School · SPRING ISD

16855 SUGAR PINE DR, Houston, TX 77090

Featured in: Best Elementary Schools in Houston

Enrollment

554

Student-Teacher

14.6:1

Score

4.5

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Texas schools

#7,055 of 8,552

In Houston

#565 of 723

public schools

In district

#19 of 41

SPRING ISD

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Helen Major EL

4.5/10

Elementary School in Houston · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Spring Woods Christian Academy

Nearby

0.3 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Ponderosa EL

4.6/10

0.6 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Helen Major EL

Helen Major EL is a public elementary school in Houston, TX, part of SPRING ISD. Helen Major EL serves approximately 554 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 14.6:1 student-teacher ratio. Helen Major EL has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.5 out of 10 and ranks #7,055 of 8,552 schools in TX.

Structured state assessment records for Helen Major EL show 45% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 51% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

How it comparesOn par with district
  • This school 4.5 · Below Average
  • District avg 4.8
  • TX avg 6.2

What Parents Should Know

35% of students at Helen Major EL were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress3.9Needs Improvement50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-4.36 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendDeclining
Academics5.3Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency34% (2024 STAAR)
Reading/ELA Proficiency35% (2024 STAAR)
Math vs. State Avg-9.6 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-19.3 pts
Overall Proficiency35% (2024 STAAR, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)34% (model expectation from 2024 STAAR)
vs. Expected+0.4 pts
Adjusted Percentile35th
Resources & Environment4.6Below Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio14.6:1
Per-Pupil Spending$12,710
Chronic Absenteeism34.7%

Helen Major EL — Students at Helen Major EL score 34% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 34%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

95.7%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores TX STAAR (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 44.8% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
School
State
43.6% (2024 STAAR)
ELA Proficiency 50.8% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
School
State
54.3% (2024 STAAR)

Based on 30 test records from TX state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
80%
ELA
87%
2010
Math
79%
ELA
88%
2011
Math
72%
ELA
79%
2012
Math
49%
ELA
65%
2013
Math
58%
ELA
68%
2014
Math
52%
ELA
67%
2015
Math
54%
ELA
55%
2016
Math
53%
ELA
53%
2017
Math
33%
ELA
35%
2018
Math
24%
ELA
27%
2019
Math
24%
ELA
27%
2020*
Math
20%
ELA
22%
2021*
Math
20%
ELA
22%
2022
Math
19.4%
ELA
32.1%
2024
Math
34%
ELA
35%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 3.9/10.

How Helen Major EL Compares

See how Helen Major EL performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
4.5/10
18th percentile in TX
Academic
5.3/10
Average
Growth
3.9/10
Needs Improvement
Environment
4.6/10
Below Average
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
96%
Teaching Staff
15:1 student-teacher ratio
38 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
34.7%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

16855 SUGAR PINE DR, Houston, TX 77090

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Helen Major EL may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. SPELL WELL MONTESSORI SCHOOL (rated 7.9/10, 2.1 miles away, in nearby Spring), which scores notably higher. Another option is BENEKE EL (rated 6.6/10, 2.2 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, NORTHWOOD MONTESSORI SCHOOL (rated 6.2/10, 1.1 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Houston, see our Houston schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.4 mi
School Distance Rating
SPRING WOODS CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Houston 0.3 mi
PONDEROSA EL Houston 0.6 mi 4.6
WESTFIELD H S Houston 0.7 mi 2.7
ARROW ACADEMY - CHAMPIONS ACADEMY Houston 0.7 mi 3.6
BAMMEL MIDDLE Houston 0.9 mi 2.6
THE SCHOOL FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDIES AT BAMMEL Houston 0.9 mi 3.6
NORTHWOOD MONTESSORI SCHOOL Houston 1.1 mi 6.2
APPLE TREE SCHOOL Houston 1.1 mi
ABIDING WORD LUTHERAN SCHOOL Houston 1.1 mi 6.1
BAMMEL EL Houston 1.2 mi 3.6
MOMENTUM H S Houston 1.3 mi
MEYER EL Houston 1.4 mi 4.4
PREMIER H S-HOUSTON (CHAMPIONS) Lewisville 1.5 mi 4.8
SST CHAMPIONS San Antonio 1.6 mi 6.3
BENEKE EL Houston 2.2 mi 6.6
SPELL WELL MONTESSORI SCHOOL Spring 2.1 mi 7.9
RALPH EICKENROHT EL Houston 2.2 mi 4.8
IGNITE COMMUNITY SCHOOL - FALLBROOK Lewisville 2.4 mi 4.5
SPRING LEADERSHIP ACADEMY Houston 2.4 mi 9.0
STRACK INT Klein 2.4 mi 6.3

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 77090 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$48,196

Median Home Value

$235,500

Median Rent

$1,228/mo

Population

41,843

College Educated

25.1%

Homeownership

28%

Avg Commute

29.3 min

Poverty Rate

20.1%

Median Age

30.1

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
ALCORTA EL Abilene, TX 4.5
BOWIE EL Corsicana, TX 4.5
BOWIE EL Rosenberg, TX 4.5
BROOKS-QUINN-JONES EL Nacogdoches, TX 4.5
BURGIN EL Arlington, TX 4.5
CARMEN V AVILA EL Edinburg, TX 4.5

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Helen Major EL

What grades does Helen Major EL serve?

Helen Major EL serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Helen Major EL?

Helen Major EL has an enrollment of approximately 554 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Helen Major EL?

The student-teacher ratio at Helen Major EL is 14.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Helen Major EL rank in TX?

Helen Major EL ranks #7,055 of 8,552 schools in TX.

What is Helen Major EL's MySchoolScout rating?

Helen Major EL has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.5 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Helen Major EL?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Helen Major EL has 45% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 51% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Is Helen Major EL a charter school?

No, Helen Major EL is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Helen Major EL a Title I school?

No, Helen Major EL is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Helen Major EL?

95.7% of students at Helen Major EL qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
71 Very Walkable
Transit Score
32 Some Transit
Bike Score
44 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
554
Student-Teacher Ratio
14.6:1
Teachers (FTE)
38
Free/Reduced Lunch
95.7%
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
Harris County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
34.7%

District

SPRING ISD
District Enrollment
33,935
Schools in District
43
Per-Pupil Spending
$12,710
District Rank
#19 of 41

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