Summary:
La Fe Preparatory School is a single elementary school (PK-5) in El Paso, TX, serving 195 students as its own district, where 100% of students are economically disadvantaged.
As the only school in the area, La Fe Preparatory School stands out for its exceptional academic growth. The school has dramatically improved its state ranking from the 45th percentile (2 stars) in 2023-2024 to the 80th percentile (4 stars) in 2025-2026. Its most impressive achievement is in 3rd grade mathematics, where 100% of students scored proficient on the STAAR exam in 2025-2026—more than double the state average of 44.33%. The school also excels in its bilingual program, with 5th graders taking the STAAR Spanish test outperforming state averages in both Reading (50% vs. 34.82%) and Math (45% vs. 22.32%). With a student-teacher ratio of 15:1 and per-student spending of $13,078, the school is effectively channeling resources into academic improvement.
However, there are notable areas of concern. The most striking issue is a "4th grade slump": in 2025-2026, 3rd graders scored 80% in Reading and 100% in Math, but the same cohort as 4th graders scored 0% in Reading and 60% in Math, suggesting a curriculum transition challenge. Science is also a consistent weakness, with only 16.67% of English test-takers and 13.04% of Spanish test-takers proficient in 5th grade. Despite these challenges, the school's rapid improvement trajectory—from 2 to 4 stars in two years—makes it a compelling case study for successful school turnaround in a high-need community.
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