Below Average
#7424 of 8,547 schools in TX
Houston EL
Elementary School · AUSTIN ISD
5409 PONCIANA DR, Austin, TX 78744
Enrollment
501
Student-Teacher
11.1:1
Score
4.4
Grades
Pre-K – 6th
Enrollment
501
Student-Teacher
11.1:1
Score
4.4
Grades
Pre-K – 6th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Austin
#182 of 238
public schools
Texas elementary schools
#3,802 of 4,678
In district
#89 of 118
AUSTIN ISD
School environment
9.1 / 10
Exceptional
About Houston EL
Houston Elementary serves 501 students in grades Pre-K through 6 in Austin's 78744 ZIP code area. This regular public elementary school maintains a favorable student-teacher ratio of 11.1:1 with 45 full-time equivalent teachers on staff. The school has earned recognition for its academic performance, ranking #159 out of 8,598 schools statewide and placing in the 98th percentile of Texas elementary schools.
With a MySchoolScout rating of 7.3 out of 10, Houston Elementary demonstrates strong educational outcomes for its diverse student body. The school serves a stable middle-class community where the median household income is $74,702 and median home values reach $265,900. About 30% of neighborhood residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher, while the local poverty rate remains relatively low at 11.4%.
This economic stability provides a supportive foundation for student learning and family engagement. Houston Elementary's location on Ponciana Drive places it within Austin's dynamic urban landscape, where families have access to the cultural and educational resources of Texas's capital city. The school operates within a large city setting that offers students exposure to diverse experiences while maintaining the focused, community-oriented atmosphere typical of neighborhood elementary schools.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
Data not available for this school
View breakdown
Houston EL — Students at Houston EL score 12% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 24%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
93.2%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores TX EDFACTS (2020-21)
Based on 4 test records from TX state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
↓ DecliningAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* 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: 3.8/10.
How Houston EL Compares
See how Houston EL performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has declined from 35% (2019) to 7.5% (2021). Reading/ELA proficiency has declined from 25% (2019) to 17% (2021).
Location
5409 PONCIANA DR, Austin, TX 78744
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Houston EL may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. UPHAUS EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER (rated 6.6/10, 0.3 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is CITY SCHOOL OF TEXAS (rated 6.6/10, 0.5 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, ST ELMO EL (rated 6.2/10, 2.0 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Austin, see our Austin schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 1.9 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| UPHAUS EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER Austin | 0.3 mi | 6.6 |
| KIPP AUSTIN BEACON PREP Austin | 0.4 mi | 3.9 |
| KIPP AUSTIN OBRAS Austin | 0.4 mi | 1.8 |
| KIPP AUSTIN BRAVE Austin | 0.4 mi | 7.6 |
| CITY SCHOOL OF TEXAS Austin | 0.5 mi | 6.6 |
| RODRIGUEZ EL Austin | 0.5 mi | 5.3 |
| WAYSIDE REAL LEARNING ACADEMY Austin | 0.9 mi | 5.4 |
| WAYSIDE SCI-TECH MIDDLE AND H S Austin | 0.9 mi | 6.5 |
| MENDEZ MIDDLE Austin | 0.9 mi | 3.8 |
| HARMONY SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE - AUSTIN Austin | 1.0 mi | 4.3 |
| HARMONY SCHOOL OF INNOVATION - AUSTIN Austin | 1.0 mi | 2.6 |
| WIDEN EL Austin | 1.1 mi | 3.7 |
| LANGFORD EL Austin | 1.2 mi | 4.6 |
| THE EXCEL CENTER FOR ADULTS - SOUTH AUSTIN Austin | 1.3 mi | — |
| PLEASANT HILL EL Austin | 1.3 mi | 5.5 |
| PEREZ EL Austin | 1.9 mi | 3.8 |
| ST ELMO EL Austin | 2.0 mi | 6.2 |
| VALOR SOUTH AUSTIN Austin | 2.0 mi | 6.5 |
| LINDER EL Austin | 2.1 mi | 4.2 |
| BEDICHEK MIDDLE Austin | 1.9 mi | 5.8 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 78744 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$78,474
Median Home Value
$307,000
Median Rent
$1,516/mo
Population
51,069
College Educated
33.1%
Homeownership
49.4%
Avg Commute
27.6 min
Poverty Rate
12.7%
Median Age
32.8
Community Profile
The community surrounding Houston EL has a median household income of $78,474. It is an area where 33% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $307,000, with a median rent of $1,516/month. The area has a poverty rate of 12.7%. The average commute for residents is 28 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| BASIS PFLUGERVILLE PRI Pflugerville, TX | 4.4 |
| CALVERT EL Houston, TX | 4.4 |
| CARRILLO EL Houston, TX | 4.4 |
| CESAR CHAVEZ EL Little Elm, TX | 4.4 |
| DEER CREEK EL Cedar Park, TX | 4.4 |
| DORA ROMERO EL Los Fresnos, TX | 4.4 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Houston EL
What grades does Houston EL serve?
Houston EL serves students in grades Pre-K through 6th.
How many students attend Houston EL?
Houston EL has an enrollment of approximately 501 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Houston EL?
The student-teacher ratio at Houston EL is 11.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Houston EL rank in TX?
Houston EL is ranked #7424 out of 8,547 schools in TX.
What is Houston EL's MySchoolScout rating?
Houston EL has a composite rating of 4.4 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Houston EL?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Houston EL has 21.3% math proficiency and 21.0% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Houston EL a charter school?
No, Houston EL is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Houston EL a Title I school?
No, Houston EL is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Houston EL?
93.2% of students at Houston 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.
Neighborhood Context
- City Safety
- High (3,724/100K)
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Austin). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 6th
- Enrollment
- 501
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 11.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 45
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 93.2%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large City
- County
- Travis County
- Phone
- (512) 414-2517
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
AUSTIN ISD- District Enrollment
- 72,830
- Schools in District
- 123
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $12,950
- District Rank
- #89 of 118
Other Schools in This District
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
Read our full methodologyRelated reading
- Best Public Schools in Texas 2026: Top-Ranked Elementary, Middle & High Schoolsbest schools
- Best Schools in Austin, TX — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Moving for Schools: How to Find the Best Schools Before You Relocateguides
- Understanding School Ratings: A Parent's Guide to Using Data for School Choice Decisionsguides
- Best School Districts to Move To in 2026: A Data-Driven Guidebest schools
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.