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Average

#3614 of 8,552 schools in TX

Top 42% in state

Petersen EL

Elementary School · HOUSTON ISD

14404 WATERLOO DR, Houston, TX 77045

Featured in: Best Elementary Schools in Houston

Enrollment

361

Student-Teacher

13.9:1

Score

6.8

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Texas schools

#3,614 of 8,552

In Houston

#204 of 723

public schools

In district

#82 of 272

HOUSTON ISD

Equity

8.0 / 10

Excellent

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Petersen EL

6.8/10

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

King Early Childhood Ctr

6.0/10

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

Montgomery EL

5.0/10

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

About Petersen EL

Petersen EL is a public elementary school in Houston, TX, part of HOUSTON ISD. Petersen EL serves approximately 361 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio. Petersen EL has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.8 out of 10 and ranks #3,614 of 8,552 schools in TX.

Structured state assessment records for Petersen EL show 54% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 52% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

How it compares0.8 pts above district
  • This school 6.8 · Average
  • District avg 6.0
  • TX avg 6.2

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress6.3Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-3.66 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendDeclining
Academics7.3Very Good30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency44% (2024 STAAR)
Reading/ELA Proficiency44% (2024 STAAR)
Math vs. State Avg+0.4 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-10.3 pts
Overall Proficiency44% (2024 STAAR, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)33% (model expectation from 2024 STAAR)
vs. Expected+10.6 pts
Adjusted Percentile60th
Resources & Environment7.1Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio13.9:1
Per-Pupil Spending$13,072
Chronic Absenteeism24.7%

Petersen EL — Students at Petersen EL score 44% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 33%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

97.2%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores TX STAAR (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 53.7% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
School
State
43.6% (2024 STAAR)
ELA Proficiency 51.6% (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
75%
ELA
82%
2010
Math
90%
ELA
89%
2011
Math
85%
ELA
86%
2012
Math
58%
ELA
61%
2013
Math
64%
ELA
61%
2014
Math
51%
ELA
54%
2015
Math
66%
ELA
59%
2016
Math
64%
ELA
52%
2017
Math
44%
ELA
36%
2018
Math
42%
ELA
32%
2019
Math
42%
ELA
32%
2020*
Math
22%
ELA
22%
2021*
Math
22%
ELA
22%
2022
Math
37%
ELA
42.5%
2024
Math
44%
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: 6.3/10.

How Petersen EL Compares

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

Overall Score
6.8/10
58th percentile in TX
Academic
7.3/10
Very Good
Growth
6.3/10
Average
Environment
7.1/10
Very Good
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
97%
Teaching Staff
14:1 student-teacher ratio
26 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
24.7%

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

14404 WATERLOO DR, Houston, TX 77045

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Petersen EL may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. SILVERLINE MONTESSORI SCHOOL - SHADOW CREEK (rated 8.4/10, 3.2 miles away, in nearby Pearland), which scores notably higher. Another option is LAURA INGALLS WILDER EL (rated 8.0/10, 3.2 miles away, in nearby Alvin), which scores notably higher. Additionally, WINDSOR VILLAGE EL (rated 7.2/10, 2.7 miles away), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Houston, see our Houston schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 3.2 mi
School Distance Rating
KING EARLY CHILDHOOD CTR Houston 0.7 mi 6.0
MONTGOMERY EL Houston 0.7 mi 5.0
R D S P D Houston 0.8 mi 3.3
MADISON H S Houston 1.0 mi 4.2
ALMEDA EL Houston 1.3 mi 5.7
HOBBY EL Houston 1.4 mi 4.8
YES PREP - SOUTHWEST Houston 1.3 mi 6.8
LAWSON MIDDLE Houston 1.7 mi 6.5
GRISSOM EL Houston 1.8 mi 3.9
REAGAN K-8 EDUCATIONAL CTR Houston 1.9 mi 6.0
SOUTH EARLY COLLEGE H S Houston 2.6 mi 8.1
PRIMROSE SCHOOL OF WEST PEARLAND Pearland 2.9 mi
RIDGEMONT EL Houston 2.8 mi 5.9
RIDGEMONT EARLY LITERACY CENTER Houston 2.9 mi 6.2
WINDSOR VILLAGE EL Houston 2.7 mi 7.2
SILVERLINE MONTESSORI SCHOOL - SHADOW CREEK Pearland 3.2 mi 8.4
LAURA INGALLS WILDER EL Alvin 3.2 mi 8.0
THE IMANI SCHOOL Houston 3.0 mi 5.3
HINES-CALDWELL Houston 2.9 mi 5.2
NOLAN RYAN J H Alvin 3.2 mi 7.8

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 77045 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$61,166

Median Home Value

$163,600

Median Rent

$1,260/mo

Population

32,482

College Educated

19.1%

Homeownership

59.1%

Avg Commute

28.4 min

Poverty Rate

21.8%

Median Age

34.5

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
ALL SAINTS EPISCOPAL SCHOOL Beaumont, TX 6.8
BARBARA JORDAN EL Richmond, TX 6.8
BLANTON EL Carrollton, TX 6.8
BRIGHT ACAD Frisco, TX 6.8
CANO-GONZALEZ EL Edinburg, TX 6.8
CEDAR CREST EL Dallas, TX 6.8

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Petersen EL

What grades does Petersen EL serve?

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

How many students attend Petersen EL?

Petersen EL has an enrollment of approximately 361 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Petersen EL?

The student-teacher ratio at Petersen EL is 13.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Petersen EL rank in TX?

Petersen EL ranks #3,614 of 8,552 schools in TX.

What is Petersen EL's MySchoolScout rating?

Petersen EL has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.8 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 Petersen EL?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Petersen EL has 54% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 52% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Is Petersen EL a charter school?

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

Is Petersen EL a Title I school?

No, Petersen EL is not currently a Title I school.

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

97.2% of students at Petersen 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
33 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
43 Some Transit
Bike Score
41 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
361
Student-Teacher Ratio
13.9:1
Teachers (FTE)
26
Free/Reduced Lunch
97.2%
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
Harris County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
24.7%

District

HOUSTON ISD
District Enrollment
184,109
Schools in District
274
Per-Pupil Spending
$13,072
District Rank
#82 of 272

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