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Jefferson Elementary

Q: Is Jefferson Elementary a good school?

Jefferson Elementary ranks 3362 nd of 4627 Texas elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

3362^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 4,627 Texas Elementary Schools

Better than 27% of Texas elementary schools

Summary

Jefferson Elementary in Harlingen, TX, is a PK-5 public school in the Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District that serves 259 students in a high-poverty area, with a free/reduced lunch rate of 94.21%.

Jefferson Elementary has experienced a dramatic academic decline over the past decade. Once a strong performer ranking in the 81st percentile in 2016-2017, the school's state ranking plummeted to the 10th percentile in 2021-2022. While there has been a slight recovery to the 27th percentile in the most recent data, Jefferson remains the lowest-performing school in its immediate vicinity. This is particularly striking when compared to Bowie Elementary, located just 0.61 miles away, which serves a very similar student population but achieves dramatically better outcomes. For example, in 5th Grade Math, Bowie achieved a 77.14% proficiency rate while Jefferson achieved only 16.67%. The school also shows a critical weakness in 5th Grade Science, where 0% of students were proficient in the 2024-2025 school year, a full 28 percentage points below the district average.

Despite these challenges, there are some areas of relative strength. The school performs best with Low Socio-Economic Status Students, ranking in the 41st percentile in 2025-2026, and shows a glimmer of hope in 4th Grade Math, where 50% of students were proficient. However, the school is failing its Special Education Students, who ranked in the 1st percentile in 2024-2025. Notably, Jefferson spends $11,916 per student, which is higher than the average of its HCISD neighbors, yet its academic outcomes are significantly worse, suggesting that funding is not translating into effective academic interventions. The stark contrast with nearby Bowie Elementary, despite similar demographics, strongly suggests that the difference lies in school-level leadership, instructional quality, and culture.

259

Students ?

15.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,366

Per pupil spending ?

94.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

601 S J St
Harlingen, TX 78550-6132

(956) 427-3120

District: Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District

Students who attend Jefferson Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Moises Vela Middle
High:	Harlingen Collegiate High School

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

98.8%

White:

1.2%

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At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 10th percentile in 2022 → 27th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 27th (2026) from a 10th-percentile low (2022)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Texas average (38% vs 51% meeting standards)

!Reading scores 13 pts below the Texas average

!Near the bottom of Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District's ranking

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school38%

District avg56%

Texas avg51%

3,362^nd of 4,627

Texas public elementary schools ?

Bottom 27%▼ down 42 pts since 2016

From top 31% (2016) to bottom 27% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Texas Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

17^th of 17Elementary Schools in the Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District

278^th of 951Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District 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)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	31.1	3362 of 4627	27.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	23.1	3849 of 4651	17.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	20.2	4065 of 4710	13.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	25.8	3635 of 4647	21.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	16.3	4140 of 4581	9.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	16.3	4123 of 4578	9.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	53.3	1854 of 4479	58.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	65.0	1250 of 4359	71.3%	★★★★☆
2017	75.8	840 of 4329	80.6%	★★★★☆
2016	69.0	1329 of 4286	69.0%	★★★☆☆
2015	51.3	2259 of 4320	47.7%	★★☆☆☆
2014	35.7	3120 of 4260	26.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	54.4	2042 of 4221	51.6%	★★★☆☆
2012	28.4	3507 of 4206	16.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	59.0	1880 of 4095	54.1%	★★★☆☆
2010	62.2	1644 of 3937	58.2%	★★★☆☆
2009	58.5	1788 of 3884	54.0%	★★★☆☆
2008	61.6	1562 of 3768	58.5%	★★★☆☆
2007	53.6	2039 of 3724	45.2%	★★☆☆☆
2006	44.7	2302 of 3476	33.8%	★★☆☆☆
2005	55.0	1775 of 3475	48.9%	★★☆☆☆
2004	60.8	1456 of 3465	58.0%	★★★☆☆

At Risk

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2022	22.8	3930 of 4461	11.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	26.5	3631 of 4331	16.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	79.9	430 of 4295	90.0%	★★★★★
2018	71.7	722 of 4240	83.0%	★★★★☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2025	35.9	1952 of 2918	33.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	26.7	2988 of 3668	18.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	36.9	2421 of 3556	31.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	25.9	2947 of 3487	15.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	30.5	2632 of 3446	23.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	86.8	163 of 3333	95.1%	★★★★★
2018	73.1	537 of 3226	83.4%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	27.9	3572 of 4575	21.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	29.1	2845 of 3744	24.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	20.4	4058 of 4658	12.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	26.5	3634 of 4588	20.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	17.8	4108 of 4561	9.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	21.1	3807 of 4499	15.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	60.6	1471 of 4348	66.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	68.1	1111 of 4306	74.2%	★★★★☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2021	5.0	2932 of 3006	2.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	56.9	1684 of 3184	47.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	41.5	2270 of 3106	26.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	34.5	3139 of 4413	28.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	27.9	2911 of 3644	20.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	24.1	3780 of 4465	15.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	30.8	3335 of 4401	24.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	20.4	3937 of 4376	10.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	20.9	3845 of 4329	11.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	61.3	1314 of 4188	68.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	70.1	853 of 4168	79.5%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	42.2	2685 of 4520	40.6%	★★☆☆☆
2025	33.7	2705 of 3705	27.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	27.2	3759 of 4594	18.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	35.6	3185 of 4521	29.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	24.4	3820 of 4477	14.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	22.7	3868 of 4451	13.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	68.8	874 of 4309	79.7%	★★★★☆
2018	78.1	497 of 4264	88.3%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	35.9	3026 of 4582	34.0%	★★☆☆☆
2025	21.2	3201 of 3739	14.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	24.0	3848 of 4647	17.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	27.0	3602 of 4585	21.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	17.9	4088 of 4563	10.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	16.2	4114 of 4498	8.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	47.8	2142 of 4357	50.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	60.1	1472 of 4319	65.9%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	29.6	3395 of 4301	21.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	9.5	3520 of 3549	0.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	13.6	4150 of 4292	3.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

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)

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)41st percentile+13 vs school

Male (2026)34th percentile+7 vs school

English Language Learner (2025)33rd percentile+16 vs school

Hispanic (2026)29th percentile~ school

Female (2026)22nd percentile-5 vs school

Special Education (2026)21st percentile-6 vs school

At Risk (2022)12th percentile~ school

Gifted and Talented (2021)2nd percentile-7 vs school

By subject vs Texas (2025-2026) ?

Reading42%-13 vs state

Mathematics35%-13 vs state

★

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Schools Near Jefferson Elementary

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				STAAR EOC Algebra I (2026)	STAAR EOC Biology (2026)	STAAR Reading (2026)						STAAR Mathematics (2026)					STAAR Social Studies (2026)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	STAAR EOC Algebra I End of Course	STAAR EOC Biology End of Course	STAAR Reading 3rd Grade	STAAR Reading 4th Grade	STAAR Reading 5th Grade	STAAR Reading 6th Grade	STAAR Reading 7th Grade	STAAR Reading 8th Grade	STAAR Mathematics 3rd Grade	STAAR Mathematics 4th Grade	STAAR Mathematics 5th Grade	STAAR Mathematics 6th Grade	STAAR Mathematics 8th Grade	STAAR Social Studies 8th Grade	Total
Jefferson Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	601 S J St	Harlingen	78550	Cameron County	Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 427-3120	259	17	15.0	94.2%	3 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	256 (98.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	31.1	3362^nd of 4627 public elementary schools	27.3%		23.1	3849^th of 4651 public elementary schools	17.2%	487			43.3	46.7	33.3				33.3	50.0	16.7				$13,366
Lamar Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1100 S M St	Harlingen	78550	Cameron County	Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 427-3130	401	28	14.1	88.5%	13 (3.2%)	0 (0.0%)	387 (96.5%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	41.3	2634^th of 4627 public elementary schools	43.1%		40.9	2711^th of 4651 public elementary schools	41.7%	77			61.3	45.9	50.0				30.7	42.6	38.7				$11,251
Bowie Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	309 W Lincoln Ave	Harlingen	78550	Cameron County	Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 427-3080	335	21	16.2	93.4%	5 (1.5%)	2 (0.6%)	322 (96.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.8%)	72.9	1020^th of 4627 public elementary schools	78.0%		71.1	1087^th of 4651 public elementary schools	76.6%	67			38.5	65.1	77.1				46.2	71.4	77.1				$10,598
Crockett Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1406 W Jefferson St	Harlingen	78550	Cameron County	Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 427-3090	234	14	16.5	94.0%	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	234 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	41.2	2646^th of 4627 public elementary schools	42.8%		38.1	2918^th of 4651 public elementary schools	37.3%	272			40.6	36.6	62.5				36.4	48.8	41.5				$13,218
Travis Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	600 E Polk Ave	Harlingen	78550	Cameron County	Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 427-3170	294	17	16.9	98.0%	4 (1.4%)	1 (0.3%)	289 (98.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	61.2	1565^th of 4627 public elementary schools	66.2%		35.8	3068^th of 4651 public elementary schools	34.0%	1503			53.9	51.2	71.4				51.3	46.5	50.0				$10,834
Houston Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	301 E Taft Ave	Harlingen	78550	Cameron County	Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 427-3110	420	29	14.6	90.7%	9 (2.1%)	2 (0.5%)	408 (97.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	60.9	1573^rd of 4627 public elementary schools	66.0%		45.3	2428^th of 4651 public elementary schools	47.8%	855			52.2	60.7	56.5				58.7	51.8	43.5				$11,825
Zavala Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1111 N B St	Harlingen	78550	Cameron County	Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 427-3200	332	21	15.7	99.7%	15 (4.5%)	0 (0.0%)	315 (94.9%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	61.5	1542^nd of 4627 public elementary schools	66.7%		41.9	2644^th of 4651 public elementary schools	43.2%	1102			72.2	50.0	57.9				70.6	50.0	36.8				$11,732
Jubilee Harlingen	Public, Charter	PK, KG-8	123 S Palm Ct Dr	Harlingen	78552	Cameron County	Jubilee Academies	Yes	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 708-2030	377	22	17.0	80.1%	18 (4.8%)	1 (0.3%)	353 (93.6%)	4 (1.1%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	62.2	1504^th of 4627 public elementary schools	67.5%		51.3	2063^rd of 4651 public elementary schools	55.6%	559	46.2	61.5	88.9	39.1	66.7	40.0	62.5	51.9	80.6	53.2	58.1	24.0	45.2	16.0	$9,801
Austin Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	700 E Austin Ave	Harlingen	78550	Cameron County	Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 427-3060	295	21	14.0	87.1%	16 (5.4%)	1 (0.3%)	278 (94.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	57	1758^th of 4627 public elementary schools	62.0%		41.7	2661^st of 4651 public elementary schools	42.8%	903			61.5	58.7	48.8				61.5	51.1	20.0				$12,857
Ben Milam Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1215 Rangerville Rd	Harlingen	78550	Cameron County	Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 427-3150	389	23	17.0	97.2%	16 (4.1%)	0 (0.0%)	372 (95.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	62.1	1511^th of 4627 public elementary schools	67.3%		52.6	1986^th of 4651 public elementary schools	57.3%	475			53.5	45.0	66.7				55.8	43.9	60.4				$10,675

Frequently Asked Questions about Jefferson Elementary

What district is Jefferson Elementary in?

Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District

What is the racial makeup of Jefferson Elementary?

Students at Jefferson Elementary are 99% Hispanic, 1% White.

How many students attend Jefferson Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 259 students attended Jefferson Elementary.

What schools do graduates of Jefferson Elementary attend?

Students who attend Jefferson Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Moises Vela Middle
High : Harlingen Collegiate High School

Is Jefferson Elementary a good school?

Jefferson Elementary ranks 3362^nd of 4627 Texas elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Rate Jefferson Elementary!

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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.