07 October . 2025
Katy ISD is No. 1 Best School District in the Houston Area for 2026
For the fifth consecutive year, Niche has ranked the Katy Independent School District as the No. 1 Best School District in the Houston Area, out of more than 50 districts analyzed.
Katy ISD has an overall A+ grade in the 2026 ratings, with more A+ scores for Teachers, College Prep and Administration. The district also got A marks for Academics, Diversity and Clubs & Activities.
The district also ranked No. 1 in Best Places to Teach, Districts with the Best Teachers, and Best School Districts for Athletes in the Houston Area.
“These rankings are the direct result of our top tier teachers and staff, who remain committed to delivering the highest quality learning experiences for every single child,” said Dr. Ken Gregorski, Katy ISD Superintendent of Schools. “Five-consecutive years of being number one in Houston, and Top 10 in the state, affirms why Katy ISD remains a destination district for families. Katy ISD represents the standard of excellence in public education.”
With a current enrollment of more than 95,000 students, Katy ISD is the top-ranked large district in Texas in the 2026 Niche report. It is the only district with more than 22,000 to rank among the Top 10 Best School Districts in Texas.
Most of the Katy ISD schools serving Elyson are too new to receive Niche rankings, except for McElwain Elementary, which received an overall A- grade.
Elyson students are also currently zoned to attend Boudny Elementary, opened in 2025; and Nelson Junior High and Freeman High School, both opened in 2024. It typically takes several years for schools to compile the state test scores, SAT/ACT scores, graduation rates and other factors that Niche uses for its rankings.
Most of Elyson is located in Katy ISD, with about 90% of the community’s planned 6,000 single-family homes residing within the district’s boundaries.
A relatively small number of Elyson’s planned single-family homes are zoned to the Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District, which also performed very well in the 2026 Niche report, ranking as the No. 2 Best School District in Harris County and earning an overall A grade.
Learn more about Elyson’s schools.