Compare Houser Elementary School with Tough Elementary School

Houser Elementary School earned a State accountability rating of B (80-89) based on three domains: student achievement, school progress and closing the gaps. Scores are scaled from 0 to 100 to align with letter grades. The school scored 72 in student achievement, 86 in school progress and 76 in closing performance gaps. It scored 83 overall in post-secondary readiness, a broad term that refers to student preparedness to undertake multiple pathways after graduation, or specifically, their preparedness for college education.

On the other hand, Tough Elementary School performed excellent to earn a State accountability rating of A. The school posted 95 in student achievement, 89 in school progress, 100 in closing performance gaps and 97 overall in post-secondary readiness.

A distinction designation acknowledges districts and campuses for outstanding achievement based on the outcomes of several performance indicators. Distinction designations are awarded for achievement in several areas and are based on performance relative to a group of campuses of similar type, size, grade span, and student demographics.

It is in this area where the two schools differ. Houser Elementary School’s only distinction designation is in Mathematics. Tough Elementary School's three out of seven distinctions are in Science, post-secondary and 25% closing performance gaps.

Based on Racial/Ethnic Groups, Hispanics comprise the biggest group at Houser Elementary School. They make up for 42.53% of student population, followed by Whites or Caucasians (29.17%), African Americans (17.05%), Two or More Races (5.45%), Asians (5.10%) and Native Americans (0.53%).

At Tough Elementary School, Whites or Caucasians are the biggest group, comprising 54.62% of student population, followed by Hispanics (22.05%), Asians (15.09%), Two or More Races (5.26%), African Americans (2.78%) and Native Americans (0.10%).

Based on household incomes, Houser Elementary School’s economically disadvantaged students is significantly higher at 64.67% compared to 6.75% at Tough Elementary School.

In terms of Limited English Proficiency (LEP), a term used in the United States that refers to a person who is not fluent in the English Language, mainly because it is not their native language, Houser Elementary School has a significantly higher number of English Language Learners comprising 29.17% of its student population compared to 13.80% at Tough Elementary School.

In addition, Houser Elementary School has 27.94% bilingual students, 2.64% are in the gifted and talented program, while 14.24% are in the special education program. This stacks up against Tough Elementary School with 13.41% bilingual students, 17.28% gifted and talented students and 5.06% students in the special education program.

42 teachers employed at Houser Elementary School have been teaching in the school for an average of about 5.7 years with individual teaching experience averaging 9.9 years. The 59 teachers at Tough Elementary School have been serving the school for an average of 6.5 years with individual teaching experience averaging 9.6 years.

Of its teaching staff, Houser Elementary School no teacher serving the school for over 30 years, has five teachers serving the school for 20-30 years, 13 teachers have worked for 11-20 years, nine teachers have worked for 6-10 years, while 14 teachers have been serving the school for over 1-5 years, including one beginning teacher only. Tough Elementary School has three teachers serving the school for over 30 years, has four teachers serving the school for 20-30 years, 13 teachers have worked for 11-20 years, 20 teachers have worked for 6-10 years, while 17 teachers have been serving the school for over 1-5 years, including three beginning teachers.

In both schools, female teachers outnumber the male teachers. At Houser Elementary School there are 40 female teachers and two male teachers. Of its teaching staff, eight special education teachers are being assisted by 16 teachers aides or paraprofessionals. In addition to its teaching staff, the school has two staff members in the school administration department and five more working as school support staff.

At Tough Elementary School there are 57 female teachers and two male teachers. Of its teaching staff, seven special education teachers are being assisted by 14 teachers aides or paraprofessionals. In addition to its teaching staff, the school has three staff members in the school administration department and seven more working as school support staff.