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Mercedes Academic Academy

Public Grades 9-12

1809^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,009 Texas High Schools

Better than 10% of Texas high schools

Summary

Mercedes Academic Academy is a small high school in Mercedes, TX, serving 100 students in grades 9-12 within the Mercedes Independent School District (Isd). The school has faced profound challenges, consistently ranking in the bottom 1-5% of Texas high schools over the past decade, with a current 1-star rating. The most critical issue is a dropout crisis: in the 2023-2024 school year, the dropout rate was 14.9%, which is over 8 times higher than the district average of 1.8% and 16.5 times higher than Mercedes High School (0.9%). The graduation rate is also critically low at 68.7%, over 20 percentage points below the district average and far behind the 100% rates at nearby Mercedes Early College Academy and South Texas Independent School District (Isd) Science Academy.

Academic performance is extremely low across all subjects. In the most recent testing year, proficiency rates were 6.25% in Algebra I, 13.64% in English I, and 47.83% in U.S. History—all well below state averages. The school spends a significant $15,782 per student, which is higher than the high-performing Mercedes Early College Academy ($8,069) and even South Texas Independent School District (Isd) Health Professions ($14,511), yet results remain poor. This suggests a need for a fundamental review of how funds are allocated. However, there is a glimmer of hope: the school ranked in the 28th percentile for English Language Learner (ELL) students, its highest-performing subgroup, indicating a potential foundation to build upon.

Despite these challenges, there has been a recent positive shift. After years in the bottom 1-2% of Texas high schools, the school jumped to the 10th percentile in the 2025-2026 rankings, earning its first 1-star rating in several years. This improvement is reflected across nearly all student subgroups. The stark contrast with Mercedes Early College Academy, located just 1.5 miles away and serving a similar demographic, raises a critical question: what is the district doing effectively there, and why are those strategies not being replicated for students at Mercedes Academic Academy? Sustaining and accelerating this momentum will be key.

100

Students ?

10.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$7,158

Per pupil spending ?

96%

Free/discounted lunch ?

720 S Mile 1 E
Mercedes, TX 78570-3137

(956) 514-5076

District: Mercedes Independent School District (Isd)

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

98.0%

White:

2.0%

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At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 5th percentile in 2016 → 10th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 5 percentile points since 2016

✓Small classes — about 11 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Texas average (26% vs 62% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (10th percentile)

!Algebra I scores 48 pts below the Texas average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school26%

District avg41%

Texas avg62%

1,809^th of 2,009

Texas public high schools ?

Bottom 10%▲ up 5 pts since 2016

From bottom 5% (2016) to bottom 10% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Texas High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 3High Schools in the Mercedes Independent School District (Isd)

805^th of 951Mercedes 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	9.1	1809 of 2009	10.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	2.4	1945 of 1974	1.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	3.2	1931 of 1990	3.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	2.5	1926 of 1961	1.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	2.2	1862 of 1876	0.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	19.7	1532 of 1861	17.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	2.4	1823 of 1857	1.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	2.9	1776 of 1797	1.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	4.7	1708 of 1777	3.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	3.7	1675 of 1762	4.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2015	11.7	1566 of 1743	10.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	1.4	1707 of 1734	1.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	0.2	1665 of 1672	0.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	0.2	1562 of 1568	0.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	2.0	1512 of 1539	1.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	1.4	1483 of 1510	1.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	19.0	1327 of 1497	11.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	0.7	1419 of 1430	0.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2005	4.4	1392 of 1429	2.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2004	2.8	1398 of 1427	2.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

At Risk

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2022	7.0	1805 of 1837	1.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	39.5	1040 of 1829	43.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	8.1	1773 of 1810	2.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	8.3	1766 of 1784	1.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	30.6	863 of 1195	27.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	5.0	1134 of 1153	1.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	6.7	1402 of 1437	2.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	6.1	1360 of 1371	0.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	8.2	1267 of 1278	0.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	15.1	1103 of 1136	2.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	18.7	1064 of 1113	4.4%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	19.8	1614 of 1936	16.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	1.9	1487 of 1504	1.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	4.2	1806 of 1880	3.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	3.0	1818 of 1891	3.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	1.2	1825 of 1841	0.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	1.4	1774 of 1798	1.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	1.3	1773 of 1781	0.4%	☆☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	11.2	1679 of 1860	9.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	3.0	1433 of 1453	1.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	4.5	1750 of 1805	3.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	3.3	1773 of 1820	2.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	2.7	1741 of 1762	1.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	23.2	1388 of 1743	20.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	3.1	1688 of 1714	1.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	3.8	1667 of 1691	1.4%	☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	12.9	1727 of 1937	10.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	3.3	1492 of 1513	1.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	5.1	1827 of 1884	3.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	3.4	1852 of 1897	2.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	3.1	1824 of 1847	1.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	17.5	1593 of 1848	13.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	3.3	1784 of 1818	1.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	4.0	1771 of 1794	1.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	6.8	1812 of 1954	7.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	3.2	1484 of 1515	2.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	3.8	1829 of 1891	3.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	2.8	1885 of 1913	1.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	4.1	1792 of 1853	3.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	3.2	1805 of 1824	1.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	4.6	1763 of 1803	2.2%	☆☆☆☆☆

Migrant

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2019	19.1	103 of 113	8.8%	☆☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	9.7	1543 of 1581	2.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	10.6	1257 of 1299	3.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	15.7	1447 of 1548	6.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	48.3	560 of 1357	58.7%	★★★☆☆

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)

English Language Learner (2026)28th percentile+18 vs school

Female (2026)17th percentile+7 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)11th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2026)10th percentile~ school

Migrant (2019)9th percentile+7 vs school

Male (2026)7th percentile-3 vs school

Special Education (2026)2nd percentile-8 vs school

At Risk (2022)2nd percentile~ school

By subject vs Texas (2025-2026) ?

U.S. History48%-22 vs state

English II Reading28%-32 vs state

Biology27%-43 vs state

English I Reading14%-42 vs state

Algebra I6%-48 vs state

★

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Schools Near Mercedes Academic Academy

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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 EOC English I Reading (2026)	STAAR EOC English II Reading (2026)	STAAR EOC U.S. History (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 EOC English I Reading End of Course	STAAR EOC English II Reading End of Course	STAAR EOC U.S. History End of Course	STAAR Reading 6th Grade	STAAR Reading 7th Grade	STAAR Reading 8th Grade	STAAR Mathematics 6th Grade	STAAR Mathematics 8th Grade	STAAR Social Studies 8th Grade	Total
Mercedes Academic Academy	Public	9-12	720 S Mile 1 E	Mercedes	78570	Hidalgo County	Mercedes Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 514-5076	100	9	10.7	96.0%	2 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	98 (98.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9.1	1809^th of 2009 public high schools	10.0%		2.4	1945^th of 1974 public high schools	1.5%	136	6.3	27.3	13.6	28.1	47.8							$7,158
Triumph Public High Schools-Mercedes	Public, Charter	9-12	103 E 2nd St	Mercedes	78570	Hidalgo County	Triumph Public High Schools-Rio Grande Valley	Yes	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 565-5417	109	5	22.1		1 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	108 (99.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5.1	1882^nd of 2009 public high schools	6.3%		7.2	1825^th of 1974 public high schools	7.5%	57	26.9	34.5	13.3	11.4	26.5							$13,098
Mercedes High School	Public	9-12	1200 S Florida	Mercedes	78570	Hidalgo County	Mercedes Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 514-2100	903	61	14.8	92.0%	15 (1.7%)	2 (0.2%)	882 (97.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.2%)	16.3	1707^th of 2009 public high schools	15.0%		11.3	1760^th of 1974 public high schools	10.8%	53	23.9	38.1	21.0	48.2	44.8							$13,666
Mercedes Early College Academy	Public	9-12	950 W 6th St	Mercedes	78570	Hidalgo County	Mercedes Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 514-5180	355	22	15.9	80.0%	5 (1.4%)	1 (0.3%)	348 (98.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	55.5	807^th of 2009 public high schools	59.8%		62.7	607^th of 1974 public high schools	69.3%	200	44.2	68.1	40.8	73.9	73.6							$8,738
South Texas Independent School District (Isd) Science Academy	Public, Magnet	9-12	900 Med High Dr	Mercedes	78570	Hidalgo County	South Texas Independent School District (Isd)	No	Yes	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 565-4620	840	65	12.8	54.8%	69 (8.2%)	14 (1.7%)	696 (82.9%)	54 (6.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (0.8%)	84	137^th of 2009 public high schools	93.2%		85.9	124^th of 1974 public high schools	93.7%	13	41.2	81.6	83.0	83.7	91.8							$14,808
South Texas Independent School District (Isd) Health Professions	Public, Magnet	9-12	700 Med High Dr	Mercedes	78570	Hidalgo County	South Texas Independent School District (Isd)	No	Yes	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 565-2237	781	54	14.5	64.1%	44 (5.6%)	11 (1.4%)	667 (85.4%)	55 (7.0%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.4%)	78.8	236^th of 2009 public high schools	88.3%		81	209^th of 1974 public high schools	89.4%	27	57.1	80.0	83.9	85.1	76.4							$16,697
South Texas Independent School District (Isd) Virtual Academy	Public, Virtual	6-12	100 Med High Dr	Mercedes	78570	Hidalgo County	South Texas Independent School District (Isd)	No	(n/a)	Yes	(n/a)	(956) 514-4201	212	16	13.6	63.7%	41 (19.3%)	2 (0.9%)	165 (77.8%)	3 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	62.3	614^th of 2009 public high schools	69.4%					(n/a)	47.8	63.0	71.4	79.4	94.9	76.2	63.6	59.1	47.6	42.2	29.6	$13,736
South Palm Gardens High School	Public	9-12	2607 Camino Real Viejo	Mercedes	78570	Hidalgo County	Weslaco Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	No	(956) 565-0404	72	5	14.8	93.1%	1 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	71 (98.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	16.5	1702^nd of 2009 public high schools	15.3%					(n/a)			33.3	30.8	47.6							$20,809
La Feria Early College High School	Public	9-12	901 N Canal St	La Feria	78559	Cameron County	La Feria Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 797-8370	901	69	13.0	80.9%	18 (2.0%)	2 (0.2%)	881 (97.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	34.6	1372^nd of 2009 public high schools	31.7%		32.5	1342^nd of 1974 public high schools	32.0%	30	21.4	70.5	33.9	59.5	52.0							$11,060
Weslaco East High School	Public	9-12	810 S Pleasantview Dr	Weslaco	78596	Hidalgo County	Weslaco Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 969-6950	2,066	127	16.2	86.0%	11 (0.5%)	4 (0.2%)	2,050 (99.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	34.9	1364^th of 2009 public high schools	32.1%		26.4	1487^th of 1974 public high schools	24.7%	123	56.9	59.8	35.8	47.5	60.4							$11,589

Frequently Asked Questions about Mercedes Academic Academy

Is Mercedes Academic Academy a good school?

Mercedes Academic Academy ranks in the bottom 10.0% of Texas high schools.

What district is Mercedes Academic Academy in?

Mercedes Independent School District (Isd)

What is the racial makeup of Mercedes Academic Academy?

Students at Mercedes Academic Academy are 98% Hispanic, 2% White.

How many students attend Mercedes Academic Academy?

In the 2024-25 school year, 100 students attended Mercedes Academic 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.