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Thigpen-Zavala Elementary

Public Grades PK, KG-5

462^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 4,651 Texas Elementary Schools

Better than 90% of Texas elementary schools

Summary

Thigpen-Zavala Elementary is a public elementary school in McAllen, Texas, serving grades PK-5 with a student population of 493. The school is part of the McAllen Independent School District, which is ranked 245 out of 961 districts in Texas and has a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Thigpen-Zavala Elementary has consistently ranked in the top 25% of Texas elementary schools over the past 5 years, with a current ranking of 462 out of 4,651 schools. The school's performance on STAAR tests is significantly higher than the district and state averages across all grade levels and subjects, particularly in Reading and Mathematics. For example, in 2024-2025, 73.47% of 3rd graders were proficient or better in STAAR Reading, compared to 58.98% for the district and 52.02% for the state. Thigpen-Zavala's performance is also noteworthy on STAAR Spanish assessments, with 5th-grade proficiency rates in Spanish Reading and Mathematics significantly higher than the district and state averages.

Despite having a high percentage of Hispanic students (95.54%) and English Language Learners (26.57%), as well as a very high percentage of economically disadvantaged students (95.54%), Thigpen-Zavala's academic performance is exceptional, particularly for its Hispanic and ELL student subgroups, which rank in the top 15% and top 25% of Texas elementary schools, respectively. Compared to nearby schools in the McAllen ISD, such as Seguin Elementary and Alvarez Elementary, Thigpen-Zavala consistently outperforms its peers on STAAR assessments, particularly in Reading and Mathematics.

470

Students ?

14.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$10,795

Per pupil spending ?

96.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

2500 Galveston Ave
McAllen, TX 78501

(956) 971-4377

District: McAllen Independent School District (Isd)

Students who attend Thigpen-Zavala Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Travis Middle
High:	McAllen High School

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

98.5%

Asian:

0.6%

White:

0.4%

See top rated Texas elementary schools

Compare Thigpen-Zavala Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 53rd percentile in 2015 → 90th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Texas average (63% vs 46% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 10% of Texas elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 37 percentile points since 2015

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school63%

District avg54%

Texas avg46%

462^nd of 4,651

Texas public elementary schools ?

Top 10%▲ up 37 pts since 2015

From top 47% (2015) to top 10% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Texas Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 18Elementary Schools in the McAllen Independent School District (Isd)

245^th of 961McAllen 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
2025	87.8	462 of 4651	90.1%	★★★★★
2024	85.7	545 of 4710	88.4%	★★★★☆
2023	80.5	749 of 4647	83.9%	★★★★☆
2022	71.7	1085 of 4581	76.3%	★★★★☆
2021	22.1	3703 of 4578	19.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	34.6	3044 of 4479	32.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	34.9	2884 of 4359	33.8%	★★☆☆☆
2017	27.2	3319 of 4329	23.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	34.1	3099 of 4286	27.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	55.5	2040 of 4320	52.8%	★★★☆☆
2014	50.4	2312 of 4260	45.7%	★★☆☆☆
2013	39.4	2900 of 4221	31.3%	★★☆☆☆
2012	37.6	3022 of 4206	28.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	37.3	3083 of 4095	24.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	34.6	3096 of 3937	21.4%	★☆☆☆☆

At Risk

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2022	86.8	259 of 4461	94.2%	★★★★★
2021	32.2	3191 of 4331	26.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	60.7	1295 of 4295	69.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	63.2	1129 of 4240	73.4%	★★★★☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2025	84.7	308 of 2918	89.4%	★★★★☆
2024	82.1	411 of 3668	88.8%	★★★★☆
2023	81.5	348 of 3556	90.2%	★★★★★
2022	72.0	626 of 3487	82.0%	★★★★☆
2021	33.0	2495 of 3446	27.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	50.7	1530 of 3333	54.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	59.2	1047 of 3226	67.5%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2025	82.0	498 of 3744	86.7%	★★★★☆
2024	84.7	504 of 4658	89.2%	★★★★☆
2023	70.2	1094 of 4588	76.2%	★★★★☆
2022	67.6	1193 of 4561	73.8%	★★★★☆
2021	17.6	4042 of 4499	10.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	33.0	3133 of 4348	27.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	33.9	3004 of 4306	30.2%	★★☆☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2025	71.5	602 of 2619	77.0%	★★★★☆
2023	60.9	1411 of 2980	52.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	79.2	17 of 2958	99.4%	★★★★★
2021	31.1	2310 of 3006	23.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2025	89.2	206 of 3644	94.3%	★★★★★
2024	89.3	230 of 4465	94.8%	★★★★★
2023	86.0	341 of 4401	92.3%	★★★★★
2022	77.3	622 of 4376	85.8%	★★★★☆
2021	27.4	3417 of 4329	21.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	40.4	2602 of 4188	37.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	41.5	2487 of 4168	40.3%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2025	93.9	84 of 3705	97.7%	★★★★★
2024	92.5	118 of 4594	97.4%	★★★★★
2023	87.9	214 of 4521	95.3%	★★★★★
2022	82.3	381 of 4477	91.5%	★★★★★
2021	28.1	3519 of 4451	20.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	45.0	2429 of 4309	43.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	49.3	2087 of 4264	51.1%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2025	82.3	505 of 3739	86.5%	★★★★☆
2024	77.3	818 of 4647	82.4%	★★★★☆
2023	84.7	523 of 4585	88.6%	★★★★☆
2022	72.2	1031 of 4563	77.4%	★★★★☆
2021	28.2	3307 of 4498	26.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	36.8	2866 of 4357	34.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	36.8	2783 of 4319	35.6%	★★☆☆☆

Migrant

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2025	72.1	8 of 45	82.2%	★★★★☆
2018	46.2	63 of 112	43.8%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2025	88.3	177 of 3549	95.0%	★★★★★
2024	80.6	420 of 4292	90.2%	★★★★★
2023	59.5	1113 of 4086	72.8%	★★★★☆
2022	52.6	1418 of 3952	64.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	33.3	2540 of 3799	33.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	49.8	1425 of 3684	61.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	55.8	1108 of 3558	68.9%	★★★☆☆

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)

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)98th percentile+8 vs school

Special Education (2025)95th percentile+5 vs school

Hispanic (2025)94th percentile+4 vs school

At Risk (2022)94th percentile+18 vs school

English Language Learner (2025)89th percentile~ school

Female (2025)87th percentile-3 vs school

Male (2025)86th percentile-4 vs school

Migrant (2025)82nd percentile-8 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2025)77th percentile-13 vs school

By subject vs Texas (2024-2025) ?

Reading73%+19 vs state

Mathematics64%+18 vs state

Science55%+25 vs state

1.0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Tuesday, January 12, 2016

They do not care about bullying, claim they do...but, work very hard to discredit the child...They, staff and teacher's are the main bullies. Stop punishing children whose parents can't afford to participate.. This school is located in a very poor neighborhood.... but, there isn't a month that goes by when parents are forced to participate in some stupid endeavor.... They may deny they force participation...but, if you reward one child for participating and exclude the others.... that's a punishment geniuses..... Should dumb people like these be allowed to teach our children?....I hate this school.. Stop trying to sell me things....my friends don't want overpriced," dollar store items"....Do not make claims it's all for the children......teach, that's your job....your only job...last comment. When did this our greatest demonstration of socialism... become capitalism at it's worst... Close Quote

Schools Near Thigpen-Zavala Elementary

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				STAAR Spanish Reading (2025)			STAAR Spanish Mathematics (2025)			STAAR Spanish Science (2025)	STAAR EOC English I Reading (2025)	STAAR Reading (2025)						STAAR Mathematics (2025)						STAAR Science (2025)		STAAR Social Studies (2025)	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 (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	STAAR Spanish Reading 3rd Grade	STAAR Spanish Reading 4th Grade	STAAR Spanish Reading 5th Grade	STAAR Spanish Mathematics 3rd Grade	STAAR Spanish Mathematics 4th Grade	STAAR Spanish Mathematics 5th Grade	STAAR Spanish Science 5th Grade	STAAR EOC English I Reading 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 7th Grade	STAAR Mathematics 8th Grade	STAAR Science 5th Grade	STAAR Science 8th Grade	STAAR Social Studies 8th Grade	Total
Thigpen-Zavala Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2500 Galveston Ave	McAllen	78501	Hidalgo County	McAllen Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 971-4377	470	32	14.9	96.6%	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	463 (98.5%)	3 (0.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	87.8	462^nd of 4651 public elementary schools	90.1%		85.7	545^th of 4710 public elementary schools	88.4%	83	20.0	37.5	57.1		14.3	33.3	33.3		73.5	69.4	78.1				68.6	64.0	58.5				54.8			$10,795
Alvarez Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2606 Gumwood Ave	McAllen	78501	Hidalgo County	McAllen Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 971-4471	435	28	15.8	96.8%	2 (0.5%)	2 (0.5%)	420 (96.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (2.3%)	44.2	2485^th of 4651 public elementary schools	46.6%		52.1	2048^th of 4710 public elementary schools	56.5%	437	9.1	33.3							42.5	52.8	57.5				41.7	31.7	56.1				14.6			$10,669
Escandon Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2901 Colbath Ave	McAllen	78503	Hidalgo County	McAllen Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 971-4511	478	34	14.1	93.9%	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	474 (99.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	44	2496^th of 4651 public elementary schools	46.3%		49.4	2203^rd of 4710 public elementary schools	53.2%	293			80.0			20.0	0.0		46.7	44.7	51.1				51.2	53.2	28.9				20.0			$10,403
Horizon Montessori - Stem Academy	Public, Charter	PK, KG-8	320 N Main St	McAllen	78501	Hidalgo County	Horizon Montessori Public Schools	Yes	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 631-0234	331	22	15.2	81.3%	6 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	322 (97.3%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	54.2	1897^th of 4651 public elementary schools	59.2%		62.5	1479^th of 4710 public elementary schools	68.6%	418								100.0	47.5	54.6	80.7	46.2	65.2	42.9	45.0	46.9	48.4	0.0	35.5	25.0	32.3	50.0	33.3	$10,546
Wilson Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1200 Hackberry St	McAllen	78501	Hidalgo County	McAllen Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 971-4525	408	30	13.8	91.2%	17 (4.2%)	2 (0.5%)	387 (94.9%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	19.7	4043^rd of 4651 public elementary schools	13.1%		28.8	3532^nd of 4710 public elementary schools	25.0%	511									37.3	47.8	43.6				22.0	23.9	20.3				9.5			$11,941
Fields Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	500 W Dallas Ave	McAllen	78501	Hidalgo County	McAllen Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 971-4344	443	35	12.5	89.6%	8 (1.8%)	1 (0.2%)	429 (96.8%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.7%)	54.2	1895^th of 4651 public elementary schools	59.3%		30.3	3448^th of 4710 public elementary schools	26.8%	1553	55.6		25.0	44.4		0.0	25.0		45.6	66.7	54.0				42.1	50.0	36.5				36.0			$13,525
Idea McAllen Academy	Public, Charter	K-5	201 N Bentsen Rd	McAllen	78501	Hidalgo County	Idea Public Schools	Yes	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 429-4100	738	34	21.4	78.3%	32 (4.3%)	5 (0.7%)	694 (94.0%)	7 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	46	2382^nd of 4651 public elementary schools	48.8%		57.2	1736^th of 4710 public elementary schools	63.1%	646									53.2	58.7	54.3				36.8	36.1	29.2				32.3			$9,327
Seguin Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2200 N 29th St	McAllen	78501	Hidalgo County	McAllen Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 971-4565	530	37	14.4	95.8%	19 (3.6%)	0 (0.0%)	511 (96.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	70.2	1130^th of 4651 public elementary schools	75.7%		36	3099^th of 4710 public elementary schools	34.2%	1969	0.0	83.3			66.7				53.0	62.3	76.3				47.8	52.2	55.1				36.7			$11,174
Romulo D Martinez Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	2571 E 4th St	Mission	78572	Hidalgo County	Sharyland Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 584-4900	525	35	14.9	65.0%	12 (2.3%)	1 (0.2%)	504 (96.0%)	4 (0.8%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	74	964^th of 4651 public elementary schools	79.3%		80.9	721^st of 4710 public elementary schools	84.7%	243	20.0	36.8	30.0	20.0	31.6	30.0	0.0		89.3	90.0	65.2	74.4			78.6	84.0	44.9	47.4			13.0			$9,076
Lloyd & Dolly Bentsen Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	2101 S Taylor Rd	McAllen	78501	Hidalgo County	Sharyland Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 668-0426	611	37	16.5	81.3%	13 (2.1%)	3 (0.5%)	590 (96.6%)	4 (0.7%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	69.1	1167^th of 4651 public elementary schools	74.9%		64.4	1392^nd of 4710 public elementary schools	70.4%	225	41.0	29.4	36.4	43.6	23.5	18.2	0.0		82.2	66.1	59.5	74.0			75.6	45.2	42.2	70.1			23.8			$8,511

Frequently Asked Questions about Thigpen-Zavala Elementary

What district is Thigpen-Zavala Elementary in?

McAllen Independent School District (Isd)

Is Thigpen-Zavala Elementary a good school?

Yes. Thigpen-Zavala Elementary ranks in the top 9.9% of Texas elementary schools.

What is the racial makeup of Thigpen-Zavala Elementary?

Students at Thigpen-Zavala Elementary are 99% Hispanic.

What schools do graduates of Thigpen-Zavala Elementary attend?

Students who attend Thigpen-Zavala Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Travis Middle
High : McAllen High School

How many students attend Thigpen-Zavala Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 470 students attended Thigpen-Zavala Elementary.

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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.