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Average

#5348 of 8,552 schools in TX

Houston EL

Elementary School · HARLINGEN CISD

301 E TAFT AVE, Harlingen, TX 78550

Enrollment

416

Student-Teacher

12.6:1

Score

5.7

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Texas schools

#5,348 of 8,552

In Harlingen

#25 of 32

public schools

In district

#22 of 29

HARLINGEN CISD

School environment

8.4 / 10

Excellent

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Houston EL

5.7/10

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

Coakley Middle

4.9/10

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

Bowie EL

7.2/10

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

About Houston EL

Houston EL is a public elementary school in Harlingen, TX, part of HARLINGEN CISD. Houston EL serves approximately 416 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio. Houston EL has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.7 out of 10 and ranks #5,348 of 8,552 schools in TX.

Structured state assessment records for Houston EL show 62% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 60% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

How it compares0.8 pts below district
  • This school 5.7 · Average
  • District avg 6.5
  • TX avg 6.2

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress4.1Below Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-4.3 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendDeclining
Academics6.7Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency41% (2024 STAAR)
Reading/ELA Proficiency44% (2024 STAAR)
Math vs. State Avg-2.6 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-10.3 pts
Overall Proficiency43% (2024 STAAR, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)37% (model expectation from 2024 STAAR)
vs. Expected+5.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile52th
Resources & Environment8.4Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio12.6:1
Per-Pupil Spending$13,586
Chronic Absenteeism24.8%

Houston EL — Students at Houston EL score 42% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 37%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

88%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores TX STAAR (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 62.0% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
School
State
43.6% (2024 STAAR)
ELA Proficiency 60.1% (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
90%
ELA
89%
2010
Math
87%
ELA
87%
2011
Math
87%
ELA
83%
2012
Math
79%
ELA
74%
2013
Math
80%
ELA
77%
2014
Math
77%
ELA
72%
2015
Math
77%
ELA
77%
2016
Math
92%
ELA
77%
2017
Math
52%
ELA
42%
2018
Math
57%
ELA
47%
2019
Math
57%
ELA
47%
2020*
Math
12%
ELA
22%
2021*
Math
12%
ELA
22%
2022
Math
30.1%
ELA
41.8%
2024
Math
41%
ELA
44%

* 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: 4.1/10.

How Houston EL Compares

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

Overall Score
5.7/10
38th percentile in TX
Academic
6.7/10
Average
Growth
4.1/10
Below Average
Environment
8.4/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
88%
Teaching Staff
13:1 student-teacher ratio
33 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
24.8%

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

301 E TAFT AVE, Harlingen, TX 78550

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Houston EL may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. ST ALBANS EPISCOPAL DAY SCHOOL (rated 7.8/10, 1.8 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is BOWIE EL (rated 7.2/10, 0.5 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, ZAVALA EL (rated 7.2/10, 1.7 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Harlingen, see our Harlingen schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.1 mi
School Distance Rating
COAKLEY MIDDLE Harlingen 0.1 mi 4.9
BOWIE EL Harlingen 0.5 mi 7.2
TRAVIS EL Harlingen 0.7 mi 6.1
ST ANTHONY CATHOLIC SCHOOL Harlingen 0.9 mi 6.4
SECONDARY ALTER CTR Harlingen 0.9 mi 5.2
VERNON MIDDLE Harlingen 1.1 mi 6.4
JEFFERSON EL Harlingen 1.1 mi 4.6
LAMAR EL Harlingen 1.2 mi 5.0
BEN MILAM EL Harlingen 1.4 mi 6.2
AUSTIN EL Harlingen 1.6 mi 6.5
ZAVALA EL Harlingen 1.7 mi 7.2
CROCKETT EL Harlingen 1.7 mi 6.9
BONHAM EL Harlingen 1.7 mi 5.5
HORIZON MONTESSORI III - STEM ACADEMY Harlingen 1.7 mi 6.5
ST ALBANS EPISCOPAL DAY SCHOOL Harlingen 1.8 mi 7.8
TREASURE HILLS EL Harlingen 1.7 mi 5.0
HARLINGEN H S - SOUTH Harlingen 1.8 mi 6.9
EDNA TAMAYO HOUSE Harlingen 2.0 mi
HARLINGEN COLLEGIATE H S Harlingen 1.8 mi 8.4
HARLINGEN H S Harlingen 2.1 mi 5.8

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 78550 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$51,524

Median Home Value

$120,500

Median Rent

$863/mo

Population

54,169

College Educated

21.7%

Homeownership

52.7%

Avg Commute

18.4 min

Poverty Rate

24.3%

Median Age

33.6

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
ATHERTON EL Arlington, TX 5.7
BARBARA JORDAN EL Dallas, TX 5.7
BOWIE PRI Sulphur Springs, TX 5.7
BREEDEN EL Brownsville, TX 5.7
C STAINKE EL Donna, TX 5.7
CACTUS EL Cactus, TX 5.7

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Houston EL

What grades does Houston EL serve?

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

How many students attend Houston EL?

Houston EL has an enrollment of approximately 416 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Houston EL?

The student-teacher ratio at Houston EL is 12.6:1. 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 #5,348 of 8,552 schools in TX.

What is Houston EL's MySchoolScout rating?

Houston EL has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.7 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 62% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 60% 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?

88.0% 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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
39 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
36 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
416
Student-Teacher Ratio
12.6:1
Teachers (FTE)
33
Free/Reduced Lunch
88.0%
Type
regular
Setting
Small City
County
Cameron County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
24.8%

District

HARLINGEN CISD
District Enrollment
16,780
Schools in District
31
Per-Pupil Spending
$13,586
District Rank
#22 of 29

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