Kelso Elementary

Summary:

Kelso Elementary is a public elementary school in Houston, Texas, serving 397 students in grades PK-5. The school is part of the Houston Independent School District, which is ranked 572 out of 968 districts in Texas and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Kelso Elementary faces significant challenges, with a student population that is predominantly African American (36.78%) and Hispanic (61.71%), and an extremely high percentage (over 99%) of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high level of economic disadvantage. The school consistently ranks in the bottom quartile of Texas elementary schools, with a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger and STAAR test scores that are significantly lower than the district and state averages across all grade levels and subjects. Despite spending significantly more per student ($10,269 in 2020-2021) compared to nearby schools, Kelso Elementary's performance has been declining over the years, with its statewide ranking dropping from 3,394 out of 4,260 Texas elementary schools in 2013-2014 to 3,859 out of 4,675 in 2023-2024.

In contrast, the nearby schools, such as Bastian Elementary and Brookline Elementary, demonstrate significantly higher academic performance and better overall school ratings, despite serving similar student populations. This suggests that the challenges faced by Kelso Elementary may not be solely due to its student demographics or socioeconomic factors, but rather a need for a comprehensive review of the school's educational strategies, resource allocation, and support systems to address the persistent underperformance and improve the educational outcomes for its students.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

 5800 Southmund St
       Houston, TX  77033-1832


(713) 845-7451

District: Houston Independent School District (Isd)

SchoolDigger Rank:
3859th of 4,675 Texas Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $10,269 Help


Students who attend Kelso Elementary usually attend:

Middle:    Attucks Middle
High:    Sterling High School

Student/teacher ratio:  14.7 Help
Number of students:  398

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
60.8%
African American:
37.9%
Two or more races:
1.3%

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  99% Help


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 Compare Kelso Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Kelso Elementary ranks worse than 82.5% of elementary schools in Texas. It also ranks 135th among 170 ranked elementary schools in the Houston Independent School District (Isd). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 23.17. (See more...)
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Racial makeup is: Hispanic (60.8%), African American (37.9%), two or more races (1.3%). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details 99% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Kelso Elementary is 14.7, which is the 65th best among 170 elementary schools in the Houston Independent School District (Isd). (See more...)
Help
Compare Kelso Elementary employs 27 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Kelso Elementary is $10,269, which is the 85th highest among 170 elementary schools in the Houston Independent School District (Isd).
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Kelso Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Kelso Elementary 3859th of 4675 Texas public elementary schools. (See Kelso Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


English Language Learner students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
African American students:
Hispanic students:


Houston Independent School District (Isd):

SchoolDigger ranks Houston Independent School District (Isd) 572nd of 968 Texas school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Kelso Elementary

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Kelso Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 64.11 1283rd 3465 63.0%
2005 27.70 2919th 3475 16.0%
2006 38.18 2570th 3476 26.1%
2007 26.85 3193rd 3724 14.3%
2008 56.78 1845th 3768 51.0%
2009 77.40 644th 3884 83.4%
2010 0.11 3936th 3937 0.0%
2011 7.78 4008th 4095 2.1%
2012 43.48 2685th 4206 36.2%
2013 24.44 3625th 4221 14.1%
2014 30.28 3394th 4260 20.3%
2015 21.30 3718th 4320 13.9%
2016 13.96 3970th 4286 7.4%
2017 15.00 4015th 4329 7.3%
2018 11.75 4185th 4359 4.0%
2019 12.05 4269th 4479 4.7%
2021 19.82 3890th 4578 15.0%
2022 9.92 4413th 4581 3.7%
2023 12.58 4375th 4647 5.9%
2024 23.17 3859th 4675 17.5%
See the entire list of Texas Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Kelso Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 34.81 2328th 3226 27.8%
2019 34.24 2440th 3333 26.8%
2021 52.16 1360th 3446 60.5%
2022 33.26 2593rd 3487 25.6%
2023 21.72 3180th 3556 10.6%
2024 28.12 2890th 3638 20.6%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Kelso Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 15.02 3510th 3558 1.3%
2019 29.34 2878th 3684 21.9%
2021 27.21 3029th 3799 20.3%
2022 24.09 3439th 3952 13.0%
2023 18.12 3867th 4086 5.4%
2024 16.00 4038th 4261 5.2%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Kelso Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 18.76 3988th 4264 6.5%
2019 19.37 3990th 4309 7.4%
2021 28.23 3501st 4451 21.3%
2022 15.35 4220th 4477 5.7%
2023 17.23 4206th 4521 7.0%
2024 26.59 3781st 4560 17.1%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Kelso Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 13.77 4105th 4306 4.7%
2019 17.24 3996th 4348 8.1%
2021 22.24 3727th 4499 17.2%
2022 12.17 4363rd 4561 4.3%
2023 13.69 4325th 4588 5.7%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at Kelso Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 25.88 2716th 3106 12.6%
2019 52.50 1937th 3184 39.2%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for Gifted and Talented Students!

Rank History for At Risk students at Kelso Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 32.95 3179th 4240 25.0%
2019 34.02 3121st 4295 27.3%
2021 55.61 1459th 4331 66.3%
2022 24.01 3851st 4461 13.7%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for At Risk Students!

Rank History for Male students at Kelso Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 12.77 4146th 4319 4.0%
2019 9.95 4252nd 4357 2.4%
2021 20.23 3854th 4498 14.3%
2022 11.69 4359th 4563 4.5%
2023 16.52 4172nd 4585 9.0%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at Kelso Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 20.03 2251st 2483 9.3%
2019 19.93 2300th 2515 8.5%
2021 17.69 2299th 2444 5.9%
2022 10.45 2379th 2421 1.7%
2023 19.47 2219th 2443 9.2%
2024 22.51 2119th 2421 12.5%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Kelso Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 23.12 3638th 4168 12.7%
2019 23.53 3655th 4188 12.7%
2021 38.89 2646th 4329 38.9%
2022 28.91 3475th 4376 20.6%
2023 23.22 3785th 4401 14.0%
2024 30.70 3354th 4431 24.3%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Data source: test scores: Texas Education Agency, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Kelso Elementary Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 





Data source: Texas Education Agency

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Enrollment information for Kelso Elementary

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1989 1 656 1 26 4 n/a n/a 0 688
1990 4 643 4 28 0 n/a n/a 0 679
1991 4 593 4 63 0 n/a n/a 0 664
1992 1 582 4 76 0 n/a n/a 0 663
1993 4 510 5 104 0 n/a n/a 0 623
1994 3 488 6 113 0 n/a n/a 0 610
1995 2 445 5 169 0 n/a n/a 0 621
1996 2 445 5 169 0 n/a n/a 0 621
1997 4 417 4 193 0 n/a n/a 0 618
1998 3 465 4 208 0 n/a n/a 0 680
1999 7 465 6 235 0 n/a n/a 0 713
2000 2 477 6 235 0 n/a n/a 0 720
2001 0 469 3 292 0 n/a n/a 0 764
2002 1 355 4 293 0 n/a n/a 0 653
2003 1 355 4 293 0 n/a n/a 0 653
2004 2 325 4 295 0 n/a n/a 0 626
2005 1 295 3 298 0 n/a n/a 0 597
2006 1 275 3 290 0 n/a n/a 0 569
2007 0 268 0 292 0 n/a n/a 0 560
2008 0 229 0 299 0 n/a n/a 0 528
2009 0 214 0 307 0 n/a n/a 0 521
2010 1 203 3 307 0 n/a n/a 0 514
2011 0 199 3 313 0 0 0 0 515
2012 2 164 3 286 0 0 0 0 455
2013 1 151 3 290 1 0 2 0 448
2014 0 151 2 287 0 0 5 0 445
2015 1 172 2 261 0 0 0 0 436
2016 2 163 2 283 0 0 1 0 451
2017 0 169 0 302 0 0 0 0 471
2018 0 150 0 289 0 1 1 0 441
2019 1 148 0 295 0 0 4 0 448
2020 3 174 0 306 1 0 8 0 492
2021 3 151 0 268 0 0 2 0 424
2022 1 156 0 244 0 0 5 0 406
2023 1 146 0 245 0 0 5 0 397
2024 0 151 0 242 0 0 5 0 398

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Kelso Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1989 688 n/a n/a n/a
1990 679 39.0 17.4 n/a
1991 664 39.0 17.0 n/a
1992 663 38.2 17.3 74.8
1993 623 38.0 16.4 78.3
1994 610 36.0 16.9 80.8
1995 621 35.0 17.7 92.3
1996 621 35.0 17.7 92.3
1997 618 32.0 19.3 86.9
1998 680 31.0 21.9 86.2
1999 713 36.0 19.8 90.9
2000 720 40.0 18.0 90.3
2001 764 30.0 25.5 91.1
2002 653 39.0 16.7 89.9
2003 653 39.0 16.7 89.9
2004 626 37.9 16.5 89.6
2005 597 37.0 16.1 93
2006 569 39.0 14.6 96.7
2007 560 34.3 16.3 65.2
2008 528 38.0 13.9 69.1
2009 521 38.0 13.7 68.1
2010 514 39.0 13.1 59.9
2011 515 36.5 14.1 45.4
2012 455 30.0 15.1 38
2013 448 29.0 15.4 95.1
2014 445 27.0 16.4 96.4
2015 436 27.0 16.1 92.4
2016 451 28.0 16.1 93.8
2017 471 28.0 16.8 94.7
2018 441 26.0 16.9 79.6
2019 448 28.8 15.5 96
2020 492 25.0 19.6 97.4
2021 424 27.8 15.2 98.8
2022 406 25.0 16.2 97.3
2023 397 27.9 14.1 99.2
2024 398 27.0 14.7 99

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Kelso Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1989 688 n/a n/a n/a
1990 679 39.0 17.4 n/a
1991 664 39.0 17.0 n/a
1992 663 38.2 17.3 74.8
1993 623 38.0 16.4 78.3
1994 610 36.0 16.9 80.8
1995 621 35.0 17.7 92.3
1996 621 35.0 17.7 92.3
1997 618 32.0 19.3 86.9
1998 680 31.0 21.9 86.2
1999 713 36.0 19.8 90.9
2000 720 40.0 18.0 90.3
2001 764 30.0 25.5 91.1
2002 653 39.0 16.7 89.9
2003 653 39.0 16.7 89.9
2004 626 37.9 16.5 89.6
2005 597 37.0 16.1 93
2006 569 39.0 14.6 96.7
2007 560 34.3 16.3 65.2
2008 528 38.0 13.9 69.1
2009 521 38.0 13.7 68.1
2010 514 39.0 13.1 59.9
2011 515 36.5 14.1 45.4
2012 455 30.0 15.1 38
2013 448 29.0 15.4 95.1
2014 445 27.0 16.4 96.4
2015 436 27.0 16.1 92.4
2016 451 28.0 16.1 93.8
2017 471 28.0 16.8 94.7
2018 441 26.0 16.9 79.6
2019 448 28.8 15.5 96
2020 492 25.0 19.6 97.4
2021 424 27.8 15.2 98.8
2022 406 25.0 16.2 97.3
2023 397 27.9 14.1 99.2
2024 398 27.0 14.7 99

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Kelso Elementary

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $1,452 (13.0%) $9,726 (87.0%) $11,178
2020 $1,515 (16.8%) $7,524 (83.2%) $9,039
2021 $1,073 (10.4%) $9,196 (89.6%) $10,269

Data source: Texas Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Kelso Elementary

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 4269th of 4479 Elementary schoolsRanks 4375th of 4647 Elementary schools
 1.2%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade Reading (Kelso Elementary)831
 23%
   3rd Grade Reading (Houston Independent School District (Isd))3946
 7%
   3rd Grade Reading (Texas)4450
 6%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Kelso Elementary)2620
 6%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Houston Independent School District (Isd))4541
 4%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Texas)4843
 5%
3rd Grade Reading (Kelso Elementary)6616
 50%
   3rd Grade Reading (Houston Independent School District (Isd))3926
 13%
   3rd Grade Reading (Texas)3926
 13%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Kelso Elementary)5711
 46%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Houston Independent School District (Isd))3528
 7%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Texas)3123
 8%
4th Grade Reading (Kelso Elementary)2312
 11%
   4th Grade Reading (Houston Independent School District (Isd))3840
 2%
   4th Grade Reading (Texas)4347
 4%
4th Grade Mathematics (Kelso Elementary)3224
 8%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Houston Independent School District (Isd))4443
 1%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Texas)4647
 1%
5th Grade Reading (Kelso Elementary)2232
 10%
   5th Grade Reading (Houston Independent School District (Isd))4449
 5%
   5th Grade Reading (Texas)5156
 5%
5th Grade Mathematics (Kelso Elementary)3232
   5th Grade Mathematics (Houston Independent School District (Isd))5344
 9%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Texas)5650
 6%
5th Grade Science (Kelso Elementary)2511
 14%
   5th Grade Science (Houston Independent School District (Isd))4027
 13%
   5th Grade Science (Texas)4834
 14%
5th Grade Reading (Kelso Elementary)130
 13%
   5th Grade Reading (Houston Independent School District (Isd))4130
 11%
   5th Grade Reading (Texas)5333
 20%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students448397
 11.4%
African American148146
 1.4%
American Indian00
Asian00
Hispanic295245
 16.9%
Pacific Islander00
White11
Two or More Races45
 25%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients96%99.2%
 3.3%


Schools Near Kelso Elementary









Frequently Asked Questions about Kelso Elementary

Kelso Elementary ranks in the bottom 17.5% of Texas elementary schools.

Students who attend Kelso Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Attucks Middle
High : Sterling High School

Students at Kelso Elementary are 61% Hispanic, 38% African American, 1% Two or more races.

In the 2023-24 school year, 398 students attended Kelso Elementary.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Texas Education Agency.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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