Joella Exley Elementary

Summary:

Joella Exley Elementary is a high-performing public elementary school in Katy, Texas, serving 954 students in grades PK-5 and part of the Katy Independent School District. The school consistently ranks among the top elementary schools in Texas, with impressive academic achievement across all grade levels and subjects, particularly in reading and mathematics.

Joella Exley Elementary's diverse student population includes 36.06% White, 8.18% African American, 23.06% Hispanic, 26.83% Asian, and 5.66% two or more races. The school's performance is strong across all student subgroups, including female students, Asian students, Hispanic students, and English Language Learners. Additionally, the school serves a significant population of low-socioeconomic status students, with 39.1% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, and maintains a high level of performance for this subgroup.

Compared to nearby schools in the Katy Independent School District, Joella Exley Elementary outperforms most, with higher STAAR test scores and statewide rankings. Schools like Griffin Elementary, Hazel S. Pattison Elementary, and Roosevelt Alexander Elementary also demonstrate strong academic performance, while some nearby schools, such as Cimarron Elementary and Memorial Parkway Elementary, have lower academic achievement.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

 21800 Westheimer Pkwy
       Katy, TX  77450


(281) 237-8400

District: Katy Independent School District (Isd)

SchoolDigger Rank:
593rd of 4,675 Texas Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $11,012 Help


Students who attend Joella Exley Elementary usually attend:

Middle:    Garland McMeans J H
High:    Taylor High School

Student/teacher ratio:  13.1 Help
Number of students:  944

Racial breakdown:

White:
34.1%
Asian:
29.6%
Hispanic:
23.2%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  40.4% Help


 See top rated Texas elementary schools

 Compare Joella Exley Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Joella Exley Elementary ranks better than 87.3% of elementary schools in Texas. It also ranks 22nd among 43 ranked elementary schools in the Katy Independent School District (Isd). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 84.37. (See more...)
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Student population at Joella Exley Elementary is diverse. Racial makeup is: White (34.1%), Asian (29.6%), Hispanic (23.2%). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details 40.4% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
Help
Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Joella Exley Elementary is 13.1. 24 elementary schools in the Katy Independent School District (Isd) have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
Help
Compare Joella Exley Elementary employs 71.7 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Joella Exley Elementary is $11,012, which is the 17th highest among 43 elementary schools in the Katy Independent School District (Isd).
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Joella Exley Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Joella Exley Elementary 593rd of 4675 Texas public elementary schools. (See Joella Exley Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Multi-racial students:
English Language Learner students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Asian students:
African American students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Katy Independent School District (Isd):

SchoolDigger ranks Katy Independent School District (Isd) 158th of 968 Texas school districts. (See district ranking list.)


What do you think?

Your rating for Joella Exley Elementary?

Rank History for Joella Exley Elementary

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Joella Exley Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2007 82.92 266th 3724 92.9%
2008 85.32 204th 3768 94.6%
2009 84.60 229th 3884 94.1%
2010 82.85 296th 3937 92.5%
2011 84.60 206th 4095 95.0%
2012 92.34 107th 4206 97.5%
2013 88.46 279th 4221 93.4%
2014 90.03 196th 4260 95.4%
2015 89.74 223rd 4320 94.8%
2016 88.45 309th 4286 92.8%
2017 94.17 230th 4329 94.7%
2018 91.68 294th 4359 93.3%
2019 89.76 349th 4479 92.2%
2021 93.11 272nd 4578 94.1%
2022 88.81 399th 4581 91.3%
2023 85.26 568th 4647 87.8%
2024 84.37 593rd 4675 87.3%
See the entire list of Texas Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Joella Exley Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 74.67 206th 1046 80.3%
2019 82.24 114th 1112 89.7%
2021 64.30 294th 961 69.4%
2022 65.85 304th 1004 69.7%
2023 68.72 297th 1099 73.0%
2024 55.88 476th 1114 57.3%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Joella Exley Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 76.71 414th 3226 87.2%
2019 74.02 485th 3333 85.4%
2021 89.29 158th 3446 95.4%
2022 87.60 182nd 3487 94.8%
2023 86.90 202nd 3556 94.3%
2024 85.00 346th 3638 90.5%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Joella Exley Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 73.99 451st 3558 87.3%
2019 80.78 291st 3684 92.1%
2021 76.35 403rd 3799 89.4%
2022 62.48 962nd 3952 75.7%
2023 67.32 789th 4086 80.7%
2024 57.81 1387th 4261 67.4%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Joella Exley Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 92.56 109th 4264 97.4%
2019 85.24 261st 4309 93.9%
2021 90.95 135th 4451 97.0%
2022 84.13 324th 4477 92.8%
2023 74.47 680th 4521 85.0%
2024 79.40 489th 4560 89.3%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Joella Exley Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 88.64 356th 4306 91.7%
2019 86.29 409th 4348 90.6%
2021 91.62 280th 4499 93.8%
2022 88.58 339th 4561 92.6%
2023 87.83 407th 4588 91.1%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at Joella Exley Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 76.36 371st 3106 88.1%
2019 78.01 145th 3184 95.4%
2021 81.05 248th 3006 91.7%
2022 78.21 123rd 2958 95.8%
2023 76.47 191st 2980 93.6%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for Gifted and Talented Students!

Rank History for At Risk students at Joella Exley Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 91.44 125th 4240 97.1%
2019 78.43 474th 4295 89.0%
2021 90.38 161st 4331 96.3%
2022 83.31 336th 4461 92.5%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for At Risk Students!

Rank History for Male students at Joella Exley Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 91.54 264th 4319 93.9%
2019 89.73 321st 4357 92.6%
2021 91.81 297th 4498 93.4%
2022 86.70 434th 4563 90.5%
2023 78.18 786th 4585 82.9%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Joella Exley Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 62.36 374th 1005 62.8%
2019 70.05 244th 1009 75.8%
2021 69.74 254th 967 73.7%
2022 67.45 286th 957 70.1%
2023 55.39 517th 1015 49.1%
2024 61.93 427th 1035 58.7%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for African American students at Joella Exley Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 81.63 255th 2483 89.7%
2019 74.38 390th 2515 84.5%
2021 79.97 242nd 2444 90.1%
2022 62.49 683rd 2421 71.8%
2023 50.00 1077th 2443 55.9%
2024 54.42 961st 2421 60.3%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Joella Exley Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 84.68 341st 4168 91.8%
2019 74.76 660th 4188 84.2%
2021 85.81 334th 4329 92.3%
2022 85.75 327th 4376 92.5%
2023 79.95 526th 4401 88.0%
2024 73.72 771st 4431 82.6%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Joella Exley Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 78.06 510th 3127 83.7%
2019 77.00 511th 3142 83.7%
2021 79.45 401st 3082 87.0%
2022 71.08 725th 3082 76.5%
2023 68.55 855th 3106 72.5%
2024 73.49 608th 3078 80.2%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for White 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.

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





Data source: Texas Education Agency

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 2.3)
33%

0%

0%

0%

67%

  

Reviews:
by a student
Sunday, February 6, 2022

Open Quote I wish I could give this place zero stars, it is absolutely awful. Most of the students were so fake and the teachers didn't care about us AT ALL. This school treats their students like puppets to make themselves look better than they actually are. A lot of trauma and bullying in the halls happen and the administrators in there never did anything. The food does not meet the health expectations on any level. I had a friend who went through 4 years of bullying at Exley and they never did anything about it. We left this school 3 years ago, yet everything is still the same. One of my friend's brothers left Exley just last year he got bullied too. There was a substitute driver that forgot to pick up a set of kids and forced the kids on his bus to sit on the aisles, endangering themselves. They also forced some students to sit on top of each other to make room. During school assemblies, they forced the older kids to sing, even though some were very uncomfortable with the concept. Exley also shunned students and teachers with disabilities and mental disorders. They have an organization called "Safety Patrol" where they force 5th graders to keep the kindergarteners safe, a job that adults should do. One of my friend's teachers did not pay attention to my friend after she got a bug bite to something that she was allergic to because she was on a personal call. One time, a student got the flu during class and tried to tell the teacher, but they completely ignored it. The school nurse had absolutely zero care over anyone there, they just sent you back to class with an ice pack. There are a few good teachers who care about the students, however, there are not enough to make Exley better. The PE teachers expect you to regulate the class by yourself without caring what you do, while also having terrible attitudes. The art teacher, Ms. Ruzicka, favors students and never tried to hide it, discouraged artwork if they did not fit her definition of "perfection". None of the teachers pay attention to students, eating acorns, bugs, and whatever they could find on the playground. I would not recommend sending your child to this school, they can experience serious trauma and might develop mental problems later on as they grow up. PLEASE DO NOT SEND YOUR CHILD HERE! Close Quote


by a parent
Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Open Quote My kids currently attend this school and it is wonderful. I have never seen a school so on top of things, its very impressive. All the teachers make time for each individual student and make sure the students have what they need. They make sure each parent knows exactly what goes on day to day by emails and automated messages. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Joella Exley Elementary

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
2005 510 64 176 107 0 n/a n/a 0 857
2006 551 72 198 160 0 n/a n/a 0 981
2007 514 80 234 164 1 n/a n/a 0 993
2008 506 78 265 201 0 n/a n/a 0 1050
2009 520 91 274 226 0 n/a n/a 0 1111
2010 526 92 271 219 0 n/a n/a 0 1108
2011 441 78 247 263 4 1 28 0 1062
2012 400 68 239 261 1 0 26 0 995
2013 376 79 226 264 5 1 28 0 979
2014 390 73 249 234 7 1 23 0 977
2015 398 69 256 225 5 0 35 0 988
2016 369 59 270 243 4 0 31 0 976
2017 347 52 275 239 3 0 40 0 956
2018 372 68 241 245 4 0 52 0 982
2019 400 77 247 256 4 0 52 0 1036
2020 390 88 266 243 7 0 50 0 1044
2021 350 84 239 222 7 0 50 0 952
2022 336 91 245 229 7 0 62 0 970
2023 344 78 256 220 2 0 54 0 954
2024 322 75 279 219 5 0 44 0 944

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 Joella Exley Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2005 857 54.3 15.8 7.5
2006 981 63.0 15.6 10.3
2007 993 63.7 15.6 9
2008 1050 63.0 16.7 10.2
2009 1111 69.0 16.1 11.8
2010 1108 71.7 15.4 12.3
2011 1062 63.0 16.8 13.6
2012 995 64.2 15.4 13.7
2013 979 59.7 16.3 13.8
2014 977 63.3 15.4 13.5
2015 988 63.0 15.6 12.6
2016 976 64.0 15.2 15.5
2017 956 66.6 14.3 20.3
2018 982 64.7 15.1 25.2
2019 1036 65.9 15.7 23.5
2020 1044 71.0 14.6 25.9
2021 952 70.8 13.4 30.3
2022 970 70.1 13.8 37.1
2023 954 70.0 13.6 39.1
2024 944 71.7 13.1 40.4

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 Joella Exley Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2005 857 54.3 15.8 7.5
2006 981 63.0 15.6 10.3
2007 993 63.7 15.6 9
2008 1050 63.0 16.7 10.2
2009 1111 69.0 16.1 11.8
2010 1108 71.7 15.4 12.3
2011 1062 63.0 16.8 13.6
2012 995 64.2 15.4 13.7
2013 979 59.7 16.3 13.8
2014 977 63.3 15.4 13.5
2015 988 63.0 15.6 12.6
2016 976 64.0 15.2 15.5
2017 956 66.6 14.3 20.3
2018 982 64.7 15.1 25.2
2019 1036 65.9 15.7 23.5
2020 1044 71.0 14.6 25.9
2021 952 70.8 13.4 30.3
2022 970 70.1 13.8 37.1
2023 954 70.0 13.6 39.1
2024 944 71.7 13.1 40.4

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 Joella Exley Elementary

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $523 (5.6%) $8,762 (94.4%) $9,285
2020 $451 (3.9%) $11,114 (96.1%) $11,565
2021 $559 (5.1%) $10,453 (94.9%) $11,012

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

Impact of COVID-19 on Joella Exley 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 349th of 4479 Elementary schoolsRanks 568th of 4647 Elementary schools
 4.4%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade Reading (Joella Exley Elementary)6465
 1%
   3rd Grade Reading (Katy Independent School District (Isd))6067
 7%
   3rd Grade Reading (Texas)4450
 6%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Joella Exley Elementary)7057
 13%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Katy Independent School District (Isd))6157
 4%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Texas)4843
 5%
4th Grade Reading (Joella Exley Elementary)5769
 12%
   4th Grade Reading (Katy Independent School District (Isd))6163
 2%
   4th Grade Reading (Texas)4347
 4%
4th Grade Mathematics (Joella Exley Elementary)6363
   4th Grade Mathematics (Katy Independent School District (Isd))6361
 2%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Texas)4647
 1%
5th Grade Reading (Joella Exley Elementary)7579
 4%
   5th Grade Reading (Katy Independent School District (Isd))7072
 2%
   5th Grade Reading (Texas)5156
 5%
5th Grade Mathematics (Joella Exley Elementary)7660
 16%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Katy Independent School District (Isd))7264
 8%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Texas)5650
 6%
5th Grade Science (Joella Exley Elementary)7859
 19%
   5th Grade Science (Katy Independent School District (Isd))6751
 16%
   5th Grade Science (Texas)4834
 14%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students1036954
 7.9%
African American7778
 1.3%
American Indian42
 50%
Asian247256
 3.6%
Hispanic256220
 14.1%
Pacific Islander00
White400344
 14%
Two or More Races5254
 3.8%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients23.5%39.1%
 15.6%


Schools Near Joella Exley Elementary









Frequently Asked Questions about Joella Exley Elementary

Students who attend Joella Exley Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Garland McMeans J H
High : Taylor High School

Students at Joella Exley Elementary are 34% White, 30% Asian, 23% Hispanic, 8% African American, 5% Two or more races.

Joella Exley Elementary ranks 593rd of 4675 Texas elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

In the 2023-24 school year, 944 students attended Joella Exley 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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