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Horizon Montessori - Stem Academy

Public, Charter Grades PK, KG-8
2047th
SchoolDigger Rank ?
of 4,627 Texas Elementary Schools
Better than 56% of Texas elementary schools
Summary

Horizon Montessori - Stem Academy is a public charter school in McAllen, TX, serving 331 students in Pre-K through 8th grade as part of the Horizon Montessori Public Schools district, and it stands out for its exceptional support of students with special needs and those from low-income backgrounds, though its overall performance has been inconsistent.

This school truly shines in its work with students who need the most help. It has ranked in the 88th to 95th percentile statewide for its effectiveness with Special Education students, a level of success that far surpasses any nearby school. It also performs well with English Language Learners and students from low-income families. However, the school struggles to challenge its highest-achieving students, ranking in the 17th percentile for Gifted and Talented students. This creates a "Jekyll and Hyde" pattern: while 5th-grade reading proficiency (78.57%) and English I End-of-Course scores (73.68%) are strong, math performance is wildly erratic. For example, 7th-grade math proficiency recently dropped to just 14.29%, a steep decline from 64.29% the previous year. This volatility is a major concern, especially for a school with "STEM" in its name, as science scores have also been consistently low.

Horizon offers a unique PK-8 grade configuration, which is rare among nearby schools like Wilson Elementary (just 0.35 miles away) and Thigpen-Zavala Elementary (1.05 miles away). While Wilson is one of the lowest-performing schools in the area and Thigpen-Zavala is one of the highest, Horizon sits in the middle, offering a distinct alternative. The school also maintains a favorable student-teacher ratio of 15.2:1 despite spending less per student ($9,644) than nearby McAllen Independent School District (Isd) schools. For parents, Horizon is a school with a strong heart for supporting vulnerable students, but its inconsistent math and science instruction and recent downward trend in overall rankings are important red flags to consider.

331
Students ?
15.2
Student/teacher ratio ?
$10,546
Per pupil spending ?
81.3%
Free/discounted lunch ?
 320 N Main St
       McAllen, TX  78501

(956) 631-0234

District: Horizon Montessori Public Schools

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
97.3%
White:
1.8%
American Indian:
0.6%
more
 See top rated Texas elementary schools

 Compare Horizon Montessori - Stem Academy to nearby elementary schools!
At a glance
Ranking trend: Holding steady — 60th percentile in 2016 → 56th in 2026
Strengths
Above the Texas median (56th percentile)
Worth a look
!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing
!Algebra I scores 22 pts below the Texas average
Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?
This school46%
District avg46%
Texas avg48%
Elementary school
2,047th of 4,627
Texas public elementary schools ?
Top 44%▼ down 4 pts since 2016
From top 40% (2016) to top 44% (2026)
See the entire ranking list of Texas Elementary Schools →
SchoolDigger rating ?
Middle school
901st of 2,335
Texas public middle schools ?
Top 39%▲ up 5 pts since 2016
From top 44% (2016) to top 39% (2026)
See the entire ranking list of Texas Middle Schools →
SchoolDigger rating ?
2nd of 4Elementary Schools in the Horizon Montessori Public Schools
344th of 951Horizon Montessori Public Schools among Texas districts
Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)
Elementary school ranking
Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankTexas percentileRating
202651.22047 of 462755.8%★★★☆☆
202554.21897 of 465159.2%★★★☆☆
202462.51479 of 471068.6%★★★☆☆
202361.11554 of 464766.6%★★★☆☆
202267.01269 of 458172.3%★★★★☆
202154.11824 of 457860.2%★★★☆☆
201950.42016 of 447955.0%★★★☆☆
201856.51657 of 435962.0%★★★☆☆
201761.61399 of 432967.7%★★★☆☆
201660.71729 of 428659.7%★★★☆☆
201555.92011 of 432053.4%★★★☆☆
201467.01365 of 426068.0%★★★☆☆
201362.21600 of 422162.1%★★★☆☆
201273.4962 of 420677.1%★★★★☆
201160.31791 of 409556.3%★★★☆☆
201055.52033 of 393748.4%★★☆☆☆
200944.52521 of 388435.1%★★☆☆☆
200852.52065 of 376845.2%★★☆☆☆
200743.62516 of 372432.4%★★☆☆☆

At Risk

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankTexas percentileRating
202275.7590 of 446186.8%★★★★☆
202158.41302 of 433169.9%★★★☆☆
201961.31250 of 429570.9%★★★★☆
201879.4439 of 424089.6%★★★★☆

English Language Learner

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankTexas percentileRating
202558.7996 of 291865.9%★★★☆☆
202467.6858 of 366876.6%★★★★☆
202368.7767 of 355678.4%★★★★☆
202268.7743 of 348778.7%★★★★☆
202146.71658 of 344651.9%★★★☆☆
201937.42245 of 333332.6%★★☆☆☆
201859.61032 of 322668.0%★★★☆☆

Female

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankTexas percentileRating
202647.12293 of 457549.9%★★☆☆☆
202557.11424 of 374462.0%★★★☆☆
202457.51718 of 465863.1%★★★☆☆
202358.11684 of 458863.3%★★★☆☆
202267.41204 of 456173.6%★★★★☆
202160.01509 of 449966.5%★★★☆☆
201955.41754 of 434859.7%★★★☆☆
201861.71394 of 430667.6%★★★☆☆

Gifted and Talented

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankTexas percentileRating
202634.72546 of 307517.2%★☆☆☆☆
202524.42323 of 261911.3%★☆☆☆☆
202255.71616 of 295845.4%★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankTexas percentileRating
202654.71775 of 441359.8%★★★☆☆
202558.21310 of 364464.1%★★★☆☆
202465.81145 of 446574.4%★★★★☆
202366.81100 of 440175.0%★★★★☆
202272.6814 of 437681.4%★★★★☆
202162.31248 of 432971.2%★★★★☆
201959.91390 of 418866.8%★★★☆☆
201860.21375 of 416867.0%★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankTexas percentileRating
202662.51308 of 452071.1%★★★★☆
202565.8940 of 370574.6%★★★★☆
202466.81109 of 459475.9%★★★★☆
202377.2558 of 452187.7%★★★★☆
202274.0698 of 447784.4%★★★★☆
202157.41554 of 445165.1%★★★☆☆
201970.0809 of 430981.2%★★★★☆
201867.3978 of 426477.1%★★★★☆

Male

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankTexas percentileRating
202655.31799 of 458260.7%★★★☆☆
202550.91678 of 373955.1%★★★☆☆
202459.81600 of 464765.6%★★★☆☆
202360.61545 of 458566.3%★★★☆☆
202262.21469 of 456367.8%★★★☆☆
202141.72453 of 449845.5%★★☆☆☆
201942.32508 of 435742.4%★★☆☆☆
201851.21933 of 431955.2%★★★☆☆

Special Education

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankTexas percentileRating
202677.4525 of 430187.8%★★★★☆
202551.41498 of 354957.8%★★★☆☆
202488.5216 of 429295.0%★★★★★
201913.93651 of 36840.9%☆☆☆☆☆
Middle school ranking
Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankTexas percentileRating
202654.7901 of 233561.4%★★★☆☆
202548.41130 of 234451.8%★★★☆☆
202470.1536 of 237277.4%★★★★☆
202380.8320 of 233086.3%★★★★☆
202254.8888 of 225460.6%★★★☆☆
202155.5862 of 225261.7%★★★☆☆
201961.6666 of 219369.6%★★★☆☆
201851.7886 of 208057.4%★★★☆☆
201752.2830 of 202759.1%★★★☆☆
201658.5866 of 198756.4%★★★☆☆
201562.1758 of 204362.9%★★★☆☆
201451.61013 of 198749.0%★★☆☆☆
201333.41482 of 197324.9%★☆☆☆☆
201273.5413 of 195178.8%★★★★☆

At Risk

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankTexas percentileRating
202275.7268 of 218287.7%★★★★☆
202176.2215 of 211889.8%★★★★☆
201967.0388 of 205881.1%★★★★☆
201856.3601 of 200870.1%★★★★☆

English Language Learner

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankTexas percentileRating
202559.5407 of 142871.5%★★★★☆
202475.1263 of 177085.1%★★★★☆
202390.288 of 172094.9%★★★★★
202271.2252 of 164384.7%★★★★☆
202148.3660 of 159258.5%★★★☆☆
201967.7272 of 144581.2%★★★★☆
201855.5391 of 137671.6%★★★★☆

Female

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankTexas percentileRating
202656.6818 of 224063.5%★★★☆☆
202556.7670 of 182563.3%★★★☆☆
202472.0433 of 224280.7%★★★★☆
202379.8313 of 224186.0%★★★★☆
202273.1433 of 222180.5%★★★★☆
202148.11054 of 215151.0%★★★☆☆
201953.5846 of 204758.7%★★★☆☆
201838.21279 of 200836.3%★★☆☆☆

Gifted and Talented

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankTexas percentileRating
201882.134 of 143097.6%★★★★★

Hispanic

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankTexas percentileRating
202662.8589 of 214172.5%★★★★☆
202546.4883 of 173149.0%★★☆☆☆
202473.2350 of 211983.5%★★★★☆
202387.5137 of 211693.5%★★★★★
202261.2593 of 207771.4%★★★★☆
202162.0576 of 204371.8%★★★★☆
201969.5385 of 193580.1%★★★★☆
201854.3723 of 189561.8%★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankTexas percentileRating
202664.9549 of 225375.6%★★★★☆
202549.0843 of 182053.7%★★★☆☆
202473.7329 of 223585.3%★★★★☆
202383.6171 of 225192.4%★★★★★
202260.0651 of 222070.7%★★★★☆
202169.3412 of 217281.0%★★★★☆
201983.9139 of 207393.3%★★★★★
201857.6672 of 203967.0%★★★☆☆

Male

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankTexas percentileRating
202654.4873 of 225361.3%★★★☆☆
202536.11185 of 181834.8%★★☆☆☆
202471.5459 of 224679.6%★★★★☆
201963.0596 of 206971.2%★★★★☆
201866.5506 of 203075.1%★★★★☆

Special Education

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankTexas percentileRating
202692.460 of 195696.9%★★★★★
How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)
Elementary school
Special Education (2026)88th percentile+32 vs school
At Risk (2022)87th percentile+14 vs school
Low Socio Economic Status (2026)71st percentile+15 vs school
English Language Learner (2025)66th percentile+7 vs school
Male (2026)61st percentile+5 vs school
Hispanic (2026)60th percentile+4 vs school
Female (2026)50th percentile-6 vs school
Gifted and Talented (2026)17th percentile-39 vs school
Middle school
Gifted and Talented (2018)98th percentile+40 vs school
Special Education (2026)97th percentile+36 vs school
At Risk (2022)88th percentile+27 vs school
Low Socio Economic Status (2026)76th percentile+14 vs school
Hispanic (2026)72nd percentile+11 vs school
English Language Learner (2025)71st percentile+20 vs school
Female (2026)63rd percentile~ school
Male (2026)61st percentile~ school
By subject vs Texas (2025-2026) ?
English I Reading74%+18 vs state
Reading56%~ state avg
Mathematics37%-7 vs state
Social Studies32%~ state avg
Algebra I32%-22 vs state

4.5
2 ratings · 2 written reviews
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What people are saying
by a parent
Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Open Quote I have two children who assist this school and my wife and I are quite satisfied with the level of teaching. The curriculum is demanding and the level of involvement of most parents is exemplary. Close Quote


by a parent
Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Open Quote The "blended" Montessori method proclaimed is only used in the lower grades and even then teachers are not required to be Montessori certified. Overall, the school seems to provide good training and probably a more safe atmosphere than average.

A drawback is the lack of programs for high achievers that even public schools provide. Close Quote





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Frequently Asked Questions about Horizon Montessori - Stem Academy

Horizon Montessori - Stem Academy ranks 2047th of 4627 Texas elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Students at Horizon Montessori - Stem Academy are 97% Hispanic, 2% White.

In the 2024-25 school year, 331 students attended Horizon Montessori - Stem Academy.

Rate Horizon Montessori - Stem Academy!



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Latest Texas data All new data »
2025–26 STAAR, STAAR EOC & STAAR Spanish test scoresJun 12, 2026
2021–22 through 2023–24 school spending dataJan 10, 2026
2023–24 dropout rates & graduation ratesSep 17, 2025
2024–25 STAAR EOC & STAAR Spanish test scoresJun 23, 2025


SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Texas Education Agency.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.

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