Margil Elementary

Margil Elementary is a PK-5 public school in the San Antonio Independent School District (Isd), serving 420 students in a high-poverty area of the 78207 zip code. The school has historically been low-performing, but recent data shows a significant upward trajectory, particularly in mathematics, where it has achieved its highest state ranking in nearly a decade.

Margil’s most notable strength is its consistent improvement in math, with 4th and 5th-grade scores now exceeding the district average. For example, in the 2025-2026 school year, 45% of 4th graders and 43% of 5th graders were proficient in math, compared to district averages of 38.5% and 33.8%, respectively. This upward trend contrasts with nearby schools like David Crockett Academy and J T Brackenridge Elementary, which have seen stagnant or declining performance. However, reading scores remain a challenge, with 3rd-grade reading proficiency at 29.5%—well below the state average of 51.5%. A key insight is that 5th graders taking the Spanish STAAR reading test scored 71.4% proficient, compared to 48.5% on the English version, suggesting that leveraging students' native language skills could be a powerful lever for growth, similar to the success of Irving Dual Language Academy, which ranks in the 72nd percentile despite serving a similar demographic.

Margil spends about $13,089 per student and maintains a favorable student-teacher ratio of 14.5:1, indicating adequate resources. The school’s recent improvements are particularly effective for male students, who rank in the 36th percentile—significantly higher than the school’s overall rank of 19th. While Margil is on the rise, it still has room to grow, especially in reading, and could benefit from adopting strategies seen at higher-performing local schools like Irving Dual Language Academy.