Guerrero Elementary

Guerrero Elementary in El Paso, TX, is a mid-sized school serving 342 students in grades PK-5 within the El Paso Independent School District (Isd), located in a community where over 80% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.

Guerrero stands out for its exceptional performance in early reading, especially for its student population. In 3rd grade, reading scores have been nearly 20 points above the district average, and the school's bilingual program is a hidden strength—students taking the Spanish STAAR in 3rd grade scored 50% proficient, nearly double the district and state averages. The school also shows a remarkable ability to support male students, ranking in the 76th percentile statewide for this group, and effectively serves at-risk and low-income students. However, math and science scores lag behind, particularly in 4th and 5th grades, where proficiency rates have been below state averages. Nearby, Polk Elementary and Tippin Elementary consistently outperform Guerrero in most subjects, while Howard Burnham Elementary, a charter school just 0.35 miles away with a similar poverty rate, is a more direct peer—Guerrero outperforms Burnham in reading but trails in math.

After a pandemic-era dip, Guerrero has been on a strong upward trajectory, climbing from the 26th to the 58th percentile statewide over four years. This rebound, combined with its success in reading and bilingual education, suggests effective recent interventions. The school's challenge now is to replicate its reading model in math and science to close those gaps.