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Dr Maria Palmira Mendiola Elementary

Public Grades PK, KG-5

4066^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 4,627 Texas Elementary Schools

Better than 12% of Texas elementary schools

Summary

Dr Maria Palmira Mendiola Elementary in Mission, TX, serves 583 students from Pre-K through 5th grade within the La Joya Independent School District (Isd), and has experienced a significant and sustained decline in academic performance over the last five years, dropping from the 52nd percentile in 2019 to the 12th percentile in the most recent data.

This school faces serious challenges, particularly in core subjects. Only about 19% of 3rd graders were proficient in Math and 21% in Reading recently, which is dramatically lower than district and state averages. The school also has a higher student-teacher ratio (17.2:1) than many nearby schools, such as Evangelina Garza Elementary (14.4:1) and Narciso Cavazos (15:1), which may limit individualized attention. However, there is a notable strength in the bilingual program: over 66% of 5th graders taking the Spanish Reading test were proficient, significantly outperforming the district and state averages. This suggests the school has a hidden asset in its Spanish-language instruction that could be leveraged to improve overall literacy.

The most striking comparison is with Diaz-Villarreal Elementary, a nearby school serving a similarly high-needs population that achieves dramatically better results, including more than double the 3rd-grade Math proficiency. This proves that high performance is achievable within the same district and with a similar student demographic, making Mendiola’s decline a matter of school-specific practices rather than an insurmountable challenge. Interestingly, Mendiola spends less per student ($10,787) than its peers, suggesting the issue is not a lack of funding but how resources are utilized. The school may need to re-evaluate its instructional strategies and intervention programs to reverse its downward trend.

583

Students ?

17.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$9,638

Per pupil spending ?

95.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

6401 N Abram Rd
Mission, TX 78572

(956) 323-2420

District: La Joya Independent School District (Isd)

Students who attend Dr Maria Palmira Mendiola Elementary usually attend:

High:	Jimmy Carter Early College High School
	Thelma Rosa Salinas Stem Early College High School

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

100.0%

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Compare Dr Maria Palmira Mendiola Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 42nd percentile in 2016 → 12th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Texas average (27% vs 50% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (12th percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 30 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school27%

District avg43%

Texas avg50%

4,066^th of 4,627

Texas public elementary schools ?

Bottom 12%▼ down 30 pts since 2016

From bottom 42% (2016) to bottom 12% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Texas Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

19^th of 21Elementary Schools in the La Joya Independent School District (Isd)

583^rd of 951La Joya Independent School District (Isd) 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	19.6	4066 of 4627	12.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	19.2	4073 of 4651	12.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	34.4	3194 of 4710	32.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	35.4	3065 of 4647	34.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	38.8	2810 of 4581	38.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	17.7	4025 of 4578	12.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	48.1	2154 of 4479	51.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	44.3	2287 of 4359	47.5%	★★☆☆☆
2017	45.3	2224 of 4329	48.6%	★★☆☆☆
2016	46.5	2470 of 4286	42.4%	★★☆☆☆
2015	23.8	3620 of 4320	16.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	36.0	3105 of 4260	27.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	30.7	3368 of 4221	20.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	29.4	3457 of 4206	17.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	39.5	2972 of 4095	27.4%	★☆☆☆☆

At Risk

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2022	63.3	1210 of 4461	72.9%	★★★★☆
2021	26.5	3632 of 4331	16.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	67.1	934 of 4295	78.3%	★★★★☆
2018	63.9	1090 of 4240	74.3%	★★★★☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2025	26.1	2383 of 2918	18.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	41.0	2151 of 3668	41.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	46.8	1860 of 3556	47.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	49.9	1658 of 3487	52.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	23.9	3008 of 3446	12.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	52.2	1448 of 3333	56.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	56.2	1204 of 3226	62.7%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	24.9	3762 of 4575	17.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	29.2	2841 of 3744	24.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	39.9	2831 of 4658	39.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	42.7	2628 of 4588	42.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	38.2	2881 of 4561	36.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	22.0	3750 of 4499	16.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	58.5	1580 of 4348	63.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	51.9	1898 of 4306	55.9%	★★★☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	29.4	2698 of 3075	12.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	15.1	2462 of 2619	6.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	31.3	2514 of 2980	15.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	50.6	1831 of 2958	38.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	25.5	2450 of 3006	18.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	48.1	2095 of 3184	34.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	43.2	2211 of 3106	28.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	23.9	3808 of 4413	13.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	26.3	2981 of 3644	18.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	43.1	2576 of 4465	42.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	41.4	2673 of 4401	39.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	45.5	2412 of 4376	44.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	21.7	3788 of 4329	12.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	54.1	1727 of 4188	58.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	50.2	1934 of 4168	53.6%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	26.4	3814 of 4520	15.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	28.6	2951 of 3705	20.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	50.4	2181 of 4594	52.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	50.1	2181 of 4521	51.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	53.5	1915 of 4477	57.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	23.5	3819 of 4451	14.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	60.9	1314 of 4309	69.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	55.2	1693 of 4264	60.3%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	18.9	4106 of 4582	10.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	17.1	3390 of 3739	9.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	34.2	3182 of 4647	31.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	29.8	3426 of 4585	25.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	41.1	2678 of 4563	41.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	16.4	4101 of 4498	8.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	37.8	2807 of 4357	35.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	36.9	2777 of 4319	35.7%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	34.2	2984 of 4301	30.6%	★★☆☆☆
2025	44.2	1916 of 3549	46.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	58.9	1324 of 4292	69.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	19.7	3802 of 4086	7.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	28.1	3171 of 3952	19.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	25.2	3175 of 3799	16.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	42.0	1922 of 3684	47.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	32.9	2521 of 3558	29.1%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

At Risk (2022)73rd percentile+34 vs school

Special Education (2026)31st percentile+18 vs school

English Language Learner (2025)18th percentile+6 vs school

Female (2026)18th percentile+6 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)16th percentile+3 vs school

Hispanic (2026)14th percentile~ school

Gifted and Talented (2026)12th percentile~ school

Male (2026)10th percentile~ school

By subject vs Texas (2025-2026) ?

Reading37%-17 vs state

Mathematics27%-20 vs state

★

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Schools Near Dr Maria Palmira Mendiola Elementary

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Ranking:

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				STAAR Spanish Reading (2026)			STAAR Reading (2026)			STAAR Mathematics (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 Spanish Reading 3rd Grade	STAAR Spanish Reading 4th Grade	STAAR Spanish Reading 5th Grade	STAAR Reading 3rd Grade	STAAR Reading 4th Grade	STAAR Reading 5th Grade	STAAR Mathematics 3rd Grade	STAAR Mathematics 4th Grade	STAAR Mathematics 5th Grade	Total
Dr Maria Palmira Mendiola Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	6401 N Abram Rd	Mission	78572	Hidalgo County	La Joya Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 323-2420	583	34	17.2	95.5%	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	583 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19.6	4066^th of 4627 public elementary schools	12.1%		19.2	4073^rd of 4651 public elementary schools	12.4%	7	16.7	8.3	6.1	21.4	41.3	47.8	19.1	41.4	23.4	$9,638
Elodia R Chapa Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	5670 Doffing Rd	Mission	78574	Hidalgo County	La Joya Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 323-2400	445	29	15.2	95.5%	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	445 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	27.3	3605^th of 4627 public elementary schools	22.1%		24.7	3748^th of 4651 public elementary schools	19.4%	143	42.9	40.0	15.4	28.6	40.9	54.8	23.8	34.0	36.0	$9,275
Dr Americo Paredes Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	5301 Bentsen Palm Dr	Mission	78572	Hidalgo County	La Joya Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 323-2730	465	29	15.8	96.1%	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	465 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	22.1	3933^rd of 4627 public elementary schools	15.0%		30.1	3419^th of 4651 public elementary schools	26.5%	514	30.0	20.0	0.0	41.9	30.9	43.9	34.0	33.9	26.6	$9,578
Juan Seguin Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	8500 N Western Rd	Mission	78574	Hidalgo County	La Joya Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 323-2710	569	35	16.4	98.2%	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	568 (99.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	28	3560^th of 4627 public elementary schools	23.1%		21.5	3945^th of 4651 public elementary schools	15.2%	385	36.0	39.1		24.4	40.4	38.6	31.8	47.1	39.8	$8,942
Narciso Cavazos	Public	PK, KG-5	4563 Minnesota Rd	Mission	78572	Hidalgo County	La Joya Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 323-2430	471	31	15.0	94.3%	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	470 (99.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	47.5	2245^th of 4627 public elementary schools	51.5%		29.6	3456^th of 4651 public elementary schools	25.7%	1211	37.0	48.3	10.5	53.1	56.4	43.6	50.9	41.8	44.6	$8,123
Patricio Perez Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	4431 Minnesota Rd	Mission	78572	Hidalgo County	La Joya Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 323-2450	421	29	14.5	94.1%	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	421 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	29.1	3490^th of 4627 public elementary schools	24.6%		34	3192^nd of 4651 public elementary schools	31.4%	298	0.0	31.3	18.8	47.1	42.2	44.2	31.9	39.3	31.0	$9,842
Diaz-Villarreal Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	5543 La Homa Rd	Mission	78572	Hidalgo County	La Joya Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 323-2470	527	36	14.7	93.0%	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	526 (99.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	65.9	1310^th of 4627 public elementary schools	71.7%		53.8	1916^th of 4651 public elementary schools	58.8%	606	23.8	35.3	19.1	70.6	56.3	52.1	48.7	64.1	52.9	$9,370
Corina Pena Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	4800 Liberty Blvd	Penitas	78576	Hidalgo County	La Joya Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 323-2750	523	35	14.9	96.6%	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	522 (99.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	28.4	3531^st of 4627 public elementary schools	23.7%		25.4	3705^th of 4651 public elementary schools	20.3%	174	26.9	21.4	22.2	34.2	33.9	48.1	30.2	40.3	41.4	$12,418
Evangelina Garza Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	8731 N Doffing Rd	Mission	78574	Hidalgo County	La Joya Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 323-2350	384	27	14.4	96.6%	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	384 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	39.6	2775^th of 4627 public elementary schools	40.0%		25.9	3675^th of 4651 public elementary schools	21.0%	900	32.3	24.4	33.3	41.3	57.4	46.3	49.4	41.6	31.3	$9,779
Lloyd M Bentsen Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3301 W Mile 3	Mission	78572	Hidalgo County	La Joya Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 323-2480	538	33	16.3	85.7%	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.6%)	535 (99.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	48	2215^th of 4627 public elementary schools	52.1%		55.4	1815^th of 4651 public elementary schools	61.0%	400	10.0	40.0	16.7	52.1	38.7	57.8	32.8	45.5	58.4	$9,457

Frequently Asked Questions about Dr Maria Palmira Mendiola Elementary

Is Dr Maria Palmira Mendiola Elementary a good school?

Dr Maria Palmira Mendiola Elementary ranks in the bottom 12.1% of Texas elementary schools.

What district is Dr Maria Palmira Mendiola Elementary in?

La Joya Independent School District (Isd)

What schools do graduates of Dr Maria Palmira Mendiola Elementary attend?

Students who attend Dr Maria Palmira Mendiola Elementary usually go on to attend:

High : Jimmy Carter Early College High School
High : Thelma Rosa Salinas Stem Early College High School

How many students attend Dr Maria Palmira Mendiola Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 583 students attended Dr Maria Palmira Mendiola Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Dr Maria Palmira Mendiola Elementary?

Students at Dr Maria Palmira Mendiola Elementary are 100% Hispanic.

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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.