Best Public Schools in Laredo, TX

The city of Laredo, Texas is home to 83 schools, including 50 elementary schools, 16 middle schools, 16 high schools, and 1 alternative school. These schools are spread across two main school districts: United Independent School District (ISD) and Laredo Independent School District (ISD).

Among the standout schools in Laredo are Hector J Garcia Early College High School, which ranks 23rd out of 1,961 Texas high schools and earns 5 out of 5 SchoolDigger stars. This school boasts a 95.6% four-year graduation rate and impressive test scores, with 91.3% of students proficient or better in STAAR EOC English I Reading. Another high-performing elementary school is Heights Elementary, ranked 71st out of 4,651 Texas elementary schools and earning 5 out of 5 SchoolDigger stars, with 92.11% of 5th graders proficient or better in STAAR Science. J Kawas Elementary is also a standout, ranking 3rd out of 4,647 Texas elementary schools and having 97.62% of 5th graders proficient or better in STAAR Mathematics.

While many schools in Laredo have consistently high graduation rates, ranging from 94.8% to 96.9%, there are significant performance gaps between the highest and lowest-performing schools, both within and across the two school districts. Socioeconomic factors, such as high rates of free/reduced lunch recipients, appear to be a significant influence on student outcomes, with schools serving higher-poverty populations generally struggling to meet state proficiency levels. The data also reveals unique characteristics and funding structures for the alternative and specialized schools in the area, which cater to specific student populations.