Summary
Garza Elementary in McAllen, TX, is a mid-sized school serving 409 students in grades PK-5 within the McAllen Independent School District (Isd), a district ranked in the top 26% of Texas. While the school has been a solid performer historically, its most recent data shows a dip to a 3-star rating (60th percentile), breaking a three-year trend of 4-star ratings. This places Garza in a similar tier to nearby schools like McAuliffe Elementary and Castaneda Elementary, which are also struggling, and contrasts sharply with top-performing neighbors like Gonzalez Elementary (96th percentile) and Rayburn Elementary (92nd percentile).
The most significant academic weakness at Garza is Mathematics, where proficiency rates (around 40% in grades 3-5) are well below district and state averages. For example, 4th-grade math proficiency at Rayburn is 77%, compared to Garza's 40%. However, Garza has a clear strength: it ranks in the 92nd percentile for supporting English Language Learners (ELL), a standout achievement that far exceeds nearby schools. Additionally, an interesting trend is a reversed gender gap, with male students performing significantly better (70th percentile) than female students (43rd percentile), a gap that appears to be widening.
Garza's post-COVID recovery has stalled, with a sharp drop from a peak of the 74th percentile in 2021-2022 to its current 60th percentile. This is concerning compared to Milam Elementary, which has maintained a high 84th percentile ranking. Furthermore, Garza's per-student spending ($11,646) is higher than several higher-performing neighbors, such as Gonzalez ($8,864) and Rayburn ($10,815), suggesting that while funding is adequate, it may not be allocated as effectively. To improve, Garza needs to replicate the successful math strategies of its high-performing peers while continuing to leverage its exceptional ELL support.
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