High Schools in Rio Grande City Grulla Independent School District (Isd)

The Rio Grande City Grulla Independent School District (Isd) serves three high schools—Rio Grande City High School, Grulla High School, and Preparatory For Early College High School—with a total enrollment of 2,816 students across grades 9-12 in a region where over 96% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

The standout school is Preparatory For Early College High School, which earns a 4-star rating and ranks in the 82nd-85th percentile statewide, far outperforming its peers. It exceeds state averages in every subject—for example, 84% proficient in Biology versus 70% statewide—despite having the highest poverty rate (98.6%) and the lowest spending per student ($8,777). In contrast, Rio Grande City High School and Grulla High School both rank in the bottom 30th percentile (1-star rating) and score below state averages in all subjects. Grulla High School shows troubling volatility, with Algebra I proficiency dropping from 75% to 46% in one year, while Rio Grande City High School shows gradual improvement, rising from the 24th to 27th percentile over three years.

A key takeaway is that the district excels at keeping students in school, with a 98.5% graduation rate and 0.2% dropout rate, but this does not translate into strong academic skills—for instance, Rio Grande City High School graduates 97.7% of students but only 37% are proficient in English I. Additionally, spending does not predict success: Grulla High School spends the most per student ($14,515) yet has the lowest performance, while Preparatory For Early College High School spends the least and achieves the best results, suggesting the early college model’s focused curriculum is a powerful driver of student achievement.