Stanley C Stanley Elementary earned the top spot among Katy and Fulshear area schools in the 2027 U.S. News Best Elementary Schools rankings, placing No. 35 in Texas out of 4,782 ranked campuses.
The Katy ISD school, located on Cinco Terrace Drive, scored 99.29 out of 100. Eighty-six percent of its 835 students scored at or above the proficient level in math, and 90% hit that mark in reading, according to the school's U.S. News profile. Both figures topped the Katy ISD district averages of 58% in math and 65% in reading.
Close behind was Hazel S Pattison Elementary, also in Katy ISD, at No. 44 statewide with a score of 99.1 out of 100. Pattison's 1,265 students posted 84% math proficiency and 87% reading proficiency.
In Fulshear, James E Randolph Elementary led local campuses at No. 154 statewide, scoring 96.8 out of 100. Eighty percent of its 995 students were proficient in math, and 84% were proficient in reading.
All three schools rated "well above expectations" in both reading and math performance, according to U.S. News. The assessment data is from the 2023-2024 school year.
U.S. News released the rankings Oct. 20. The publication ranked 46,713 elementary schools nationwide, using four equally weighted factors: math proficiency, math performance, reading proficiency and reading performance. Half the formula measured raw scores. The other half factored in socioeconomic demographics.
Katy ISD had 46 ranked elementary schools across the district's 79 total campuses, serving 96,111 students districtwide.
The district has drawn separate recognition from Niche, which gave Katy ISD an A+ overall grade and named it the top large school district in the Houston area and Texas in its own 2027 rankings. In a September statement about the Niche results, Katy ISD Superintendent Ken Gregorski said the district's teachers and staff remain focused on providing exceptional opportunities for every student and credited the support of families and the community.
No statements from the principals of Stanley, Pattison or Randolph elementary schools about the U.S. News rankings were available as of publication.
Texas top 10 elementary schools (2027 U.S. News)
- Spring Branch Academic Institute, Houston
- Sudie L Williams Talented and Gifted Academy, Dallas
- School for the Highly Gifted, Grand Prairie
- T H Rogers School, Houston
- William B Travis Vanguard Acad, Dallas
- Hudson Elementary, Longview
- Canyon Creek Elementary, Austin
- Martha & Josh Morriss Math & Engineering Elementary, Texarkana
- Cactus Ranch Elementary, Round Rock
- Windsor Park G/T, Corpus Christi
The top-ranked school in Texas, Spring Branch Academic Institute in Houston, posted 100% proficiency in both math and reading among its 174 students, according to its U.S. News profile. The school serves grades 1 through 12 with a 5-to-1 student-teacher ratio.
Parents can search the full rankings at usnews.com.
