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South Texas Independent School District (Isd) Virtual Academy

Public, Virtual Grades 6-12

623^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,057 Texas High Schools

Better than 70% of Texas high schools

Summary

South Texas Independent School District (ISD) Virtual Academy in Mercedes, TX, is a small public high school serving 212 students in grades 6-12, offering a virtual learning environment within the highly-rated South Texas Independent School District (ISD).

This school stands out for its exceptional support of all students, particularly those with special needs and gifted learners. Special education students rank in the 92nd percentile statewide, while gifted and talented students rank in the top 1% of all Texas schools. The school also excels with its Hispanic and low socio-economic status students, ranking in the 76th and 79th percentiles respectively. With a perfect 0.0% dropout rate for the last two years and a low student-to-teacher ratio of 13.6:1, the Virtual Academy provides a supportive environment that keeps students engaged. In English I Reading, 71.43% of students were proficient, more than double the rate at nearby Weslaco East High School (35.82%) and more than triple that of Mercedes High School (20.97%).

While the school is a strong alternative to struggling local districts, it faces unique challenges in a virtual format. Mathematics and science proficiency lag behind district averages—only 47.62% of 6th graders were proficient in math compared to the district's 70%, and Biology proficiency was 63.04% versus the district's 88.85%. However, the high school history program is a powerhouse, with 94.87% of students proficient in U.S. History, far exceeding the state average of 70.17%. As part of the South Texas ISD trio of magnet schools, the Virtual Academy offers a valuable option for families seeking a non-traditional setting, especially when compared to the lower-performing traditional schools in the area like Mercedes High School (15th percentile) and Weslaco East High School (32nd percentile).

212

Students ?

13.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,736

Per pupil spending ?

63.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

100 Med High Dr
Mercedes, TX 78570

(956) 514-4201

District: South Texas Independent School District (Isd)

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

77.8%

White:

19.3%

Asian:

1.4%

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Compare South Texas Independent School District (Isd) Virtual Academy to nearby high schools!

At a glance

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Texas average (60% vs 54% meeting standards)

✓Above the Texas median (70th percentile)

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

!Near the bottom of South Texas Independent School District (Isd)'s ranking

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school60%

District avg78%

Texas avg54%

Middle school

756^th of 2,359

Texas public middle schools ?

Top 32%▼ down 3 pts since 2023

From top 29% (2023) to top 32% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Texas Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

High school

623^rd of 2,057

Texas public high schools ?

Top 30%

See the entire ranking list of Texas High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

5^th of 5High Schools in the South Texas Independent School District (Isd)

57^th of 947South Texas 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)

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	60.1	756 of 2359	68.0%	★★★☆☆
2025	61.1	767 of 2344	67.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	78.5	351 of 2372	85.2%	★★★★☆
2023	64.3	672 of 2330	71.2%	★★★★☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	68.4	244 of 1403	82.6%	★★★★☆
2025	59.8	405 of 1428	71.6%	★★★★☆
2024	73.0	286 of 1770	83.8%	★★★★☆
2023	48.9	759 of 1720	55.9%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	54.8	876 of 2263	61.3%	★★★☆☆
2025	52.5	770 of 1825	57.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	68.5	510 of 2242	77.3%	★★★★☆
2023	62.0	693 of 2241	69.1%	★★★☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2023	43.5	1054 of 1481	28.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	63.6	568 of 2161	73.7%	★★★★☆
2025	64.9	423 of 1731	75.6%	★★★★☆
2024	80.6	213 of 2119	89.9%	★★★★☆
2023	69.1	450 of 2116	78.7%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	63.5	584 of 2275	74.3%	★★★★☆
2025	55.6	667 of 1820	63.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	80.4	207 of 2235	90.7%	★★★★★
2023	75.7	313 of 2251	86.1%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	62.2	664 of 2274	70.8%	★★★★☆
2025	60.7	570 of 1818	68.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	79.8	285 of 2246	87.3%	★★★★☆
2023	63.5	681 of 2245	69.7%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	78.1	179 of 1974	90.9%	★★★★★
2025	45.5	799 of 1568	49.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	79.6	147 of 1891	92.2%	★★★★★
2023	84.3	111 of 1815	93.9%	★★★★★

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)

Middle school

Special Education (2026)91st percentile+23 vs school

English Language Learner (2026)83rd percentile+15 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)74th percentile+6 vs school

Hispanic (2026)74th percentile+6 vs school

Male (2026)71st percentile+3 vs school

Female (2026)61st percentile-7 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2023)29th percentile-42 vs school

High school

Gifted and Talented (2026)99th percentile+29 vs school

Special Education (2026)92nd percentile+22 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)79th percentile+10 vs school

Hispanic (2026)76th percentile+7 vs school

Female (2026)68th percentile~ school

Male (2026)61st percentile-9 vs school

English Language Learner (2026)33rd percentile-36 vs school

By subject vs Texas (2025-2026) ?

U.S. History95%+25 vs state

English II Reading79%+20 vs state

English I Reading71%+16 vs state

Reading64%+9 vs state

Biology63%-7 vs state

Algebra I48%-6 vs state

Mathematics44%~ state avg

Social Studies30%~ state avg

★

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Schools Near South Texas Independent School District (Isd) Virtual 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 (2025)	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
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%)	62.4	623^rd of 2057 public high schools	69.7%					(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 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%)	78.9	239^th of 2057 public high schools	88.4%		81	209^th of 1974 public high schools	89.4%	30	57.1	80.0	83.9	85.1	76.4							$16,697
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%)	84.1	138^th of 2057 public high schools	93.3%		85.9	124^th of 1974 public high schools	93.7%	14	41.2	81.6	83.0	83.7	91.8							$14,808
South Palm Gardens High School	Public	10-12	2607 Camino Real Viejo	Mercedes	78599	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%)								(n/a)			33.3	30.8	47.6							$20,809
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%)	55.7	818^th of 2057 public high schools	60.2%		62.7	607^th of 1974 public high schools	69.3%	211	44.2	68.1	40.8	73.9	73.6							$8,738
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%)	35.1	1388^th of 2057 public high schools	32.5%		26.4	1487^th of 1974 public high schools	24.7%	99	56.9	59.8	35.8	47.5	60.4							$11,589
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%)	5.2	1919^th of 2057 public high schools	6.7%		7.2	1825^th of 1974 public high schools	7.5%	94	26.9	34.5	13.3	11.4	26.5							$13,098
Premier H S Of Weslaco	Public, Charter	9-12	2419 Haggar Ave	Weslaco	75029	Denton County	Premier High Schools	Yes	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 781-8800	112	4	25.3	95.5%	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	112 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	36.4	1355^th of 2057 public high schools	34.1%		20.3	1608^th of 1974 public high schools	18.5%	253	64.7	43.8	40.0	50.0	61.5							$8,780
Texasworks - Weslaco	Public, Charter	9-12	2419 E Haggar Ave	Weslaco	75029	Denton County	Texas Works	Yes	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(972) 316-3663	29	1	29.0		1 (3.4%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (96.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6.1	1897^th of 2057 public high schools	7.8%					(n/a)	20.0			28.6	20.0
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%)	16.5	1737^th of 2057 public high schools	15.6%		11.3	1760^th of 1974 public high schools	10.8%	23	23.9	38.1	21.0	48.2	44.8							$13,666

Frequently Asked Questions about South Texas Independent School District (Isd) Virtual Academy

How many students attend South Texas Independent School District (Isd) Virtual Academy?

In the 2024-25 school year, 212 students attended South Texas Independent School District (Isd) Virtual Academy.

What is the racial makeup of South Texas Independent School District (Isd) Virtual Academy?

Students at South Texas Independent School District (Isd) Virtual Academy are 78% Hispanic, 19% White, 1% Asian.

Is South Texas Independent School District (Isd) Virtual Academy a good school?

South Texas Independent School District (Isd) Virtual Academy ranks 623^rd of 2057 Texas high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What district is South Texas Independent School District (Isd) Virtual Academy in?

South Texas Independent School District (Isd)

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Latest Texas data All new data »

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesNewSep 30, 2026

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

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.