Needs Improvement
#7626 of 8,552 schools in TX
Houston EL
Elementary School · AUSTIN ISD
5409 PONCIANA DR, Austin, TX 78744
Enrollment
501
Student-Teacher
11.1:1
Score
3.9
Grades
Pre-K – 6th
Enrollment
501
Student-Teacher
11.1:1
Score
3.9
Grades
Pre-K – 6th
Data vintage
2022-23
Data vintage2022-23
How this school compares
Texas schools
#7,626 of 8,552
In Austin
#186 of 241
public schools
In district
#84 of 118
AUSTIN ISD
School environment
7.1 / 10
Very Good
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Houston EL
Elementary School in Austin · grades Pre-K – 6th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.
Uphaus Early Childhood Center
0.3 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
Kipp Austin Beacon Prep
0.4 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
About Houston EL
Houston EL is a public elementary school in Austin, TX, part of AUSTIN ISD. Houston EL serves approximately 501 students, and covers grades Pre-K-6th, and has a 11.1:1 student-teacher ratio. Houston EL has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.9 out of 10 and ranks #7,626 of 8,552 schools in TX.
Structured state assessment records for Houston EL show 48% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 48% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
- This school 3.9 · Needs Improvement
- District avg 5.7
- TX avg 6.2
What Parents Should Know
36% of students at Houston 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 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Houston EL — Students at Houston EL score 27% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 35%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
93.2%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores TX STAAR (2023-24)
Based on 30 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: 2.8/10.
How Houston EL Compares
See how Houston EL performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Programs & Offerings
Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more
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 7.2/10, 0.3 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is HARMONY SCHOOL OF INNOVATION - AUSTIN (rated 6.9/10, 1.0 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, CITY SCHOOL OF TEXAS (rated 6.5/10, 0.5 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 | 7.2 |
| KIPP AUSTIN BEACON PREP Austin | 0.4 mi | 2.6 |
| KIPP AUSTIN OBRAS Austin | 0.4 mi | 2.1 |
| KIPP AUSTIN BRAVE Austin | 0.4 mi | 4.9 |
| CITY SCHOOL OF TEXAS Austin | 0.5 mi | 6.5 |
| RODRIGUEZ EL Austin | 0.5 mi | 6.0 |
| WAYSIDE REAL LEARNING ACADEMY Austin | 0.9 mi | 5.9 |
| WAYSIDE SCI-TECH MIDDLE AND H S Austin | 0.9 mi | 5.7 |
| MENDEZ MIDDLE Austin | 0.9 mi | 4.5 |
| HARMONY SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE - AUSTIN Austin | 1.0 mi | 4.5 |
| HARMONY SCHOOL OF INNOVATION - AUSTIN Austin | 1.0 mi | 6.9 |
| WIDEN EL Austin | 1.1 mi | 4.5 |
| LANGFORD EL Austin | 1.2 mi | 2.7 |
| THE EXCEL CENTER FOR ADULTS - SOUTH AUSTIN Austin | 1.3 mi | 3.0 |
| PLEASANT HILL EL Austin | 1.3 mi | 5.9 |
| PEREZ EL Austin | 1.9 mi | 3.5 |
| ST ELMO EL Austin | 2.0 mi | 3.9 |
| VALOR SOUTH AUSTIN Austin | 2.0 mi | 6.3 |
| LINDER EL Austin | 2.1 mi | 4.8 |
| BEDICHEK MIDDLE Austin | 1.9 mi | 3.4 |
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
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| ANDERSON EL Spring, TX | 3.9 |
| B H MACON EL Dallas, TX | 3.9 |
| BARBARA WALKER EL Crandall, TX | 3.9 |
| BOONE EL San Antonio, TX | 3.9 |
| CLIFT EL Waxahachie, TX | 3.9 |
| CONVERSE EL Converse, TX | 3.9 |
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 ranks #7,626 of 8,552 schools in TX.
What is Houston EL's MySchoolScout rating?
Houston EL has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.9 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 Houston EL?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Houston EL has 48% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 48% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
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
Powered by 
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
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 35.9%
- Phone
- (512) 414-2517
Resources & Links
District
AUSTIN ISD- District Enrollment
- 72,830
- Schools in District
- 123
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $12,950
- District Rank
- #84 of 118
Other Schools in This District
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