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Raul Garza Junior Steam Academy

Q: Is Raul Garza Junior Steam Academy a good school?

Raul Garza Junior Steam Academy ranks 1728 th of 4627 Texas elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

1728^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 4,627 Texas Elementary Schools

Better than 63% of Texas elementary schools

Summary

Raul Garza Junior Steam Academy is a public elementary school in San Benito, TX, serving 437 students in grades PK-5 within the San Benito Consolidated Independent School District, where about 75% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. This school stands out for its remarkable turnaround, climbing from the 20th percentile statewide a decade ago to the 63rd percentile today, earning a 3-star rating—a 43-percentile-point improvement that shows strong leadership and effective teaching.

One of the school's biggest strengths is early literacy: 63.64% of 3rd graders are proficient in reading, far above the district average of 48.68% and the state average of 51.08%. This is a consistent trend over four years, making it a standout compared to nearby schools like Roberts Elementary and Fred Booth Global Leadership Academy, which struggle to reach even the district average. The school also excels at supporting students from low-income backgrounds, ranking in the 75th percentile statewide for this group—better than Cash Elementary and far ahead of Roberts Elementary, which ranks in the 7th percentile overall despite a similar student profile. In 5th-grade science, Raul Garza consistently beats the district average, with 27.69% proficient compared to 23.67% districtwide, outperforming Downs Fine Arts Academy (19.61%) and Roberts Elementary (4.44%).

However, the school faces a clear challenge in 5th-grade math, where proficiency drops to 37.7%—well below the district average of 50.08% and the state average of 47.38%. This "math cliff" has persisted for three years, suggesting a need for stronger support as students tackle more complex concepts. Compared to other magnet schools in the district, Raul Garza sits in the middle: Downs Fine Arts Academy leads at the 77th percentile, while Fred Booth Global Leadership Academy lags at the 11th percentile despite higher per-student spending. Support for English learners is an area for growth, with the school ranking in the 37th and 44th percentiles in recent years, earning only 2 stars. Overall, Raul Garza is a solid choice for families seeking strong reading instruction and a school that has proven it can lift student achievement over time.

437

Students ?

16.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$10,537

Per pupil spending ?

75.3%

Free/discounted lunch ?

848 8th St
San Benito, TX 78586-5509

(956) 361-6900

District: San Benito Consolidated Independent School District

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

97.3%

White:

2.7%

See top rated Texas elementary schools

Compare Raul Garza Junior Steam Academy to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 20th percentile in 2016 → 63rd in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 43 percentile points since 2016

✓Above the Texas median (63rd percentile)

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school53%

District avg50%

Texas avg51%

1,728^th of 4,627

Texas public elementary schools ?

Top 37%▲ up 43 pts since 2016

From bottom 20% (2016) to top 37% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Texas Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

5^th of 11Elementary Schools in the San Benito Consolidated Independent School District

534^th of 951San Benito 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	57.7	1728 of 4627	62.7%	★★★☆☆
2025	48.6	2218 of 4651	52.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	62.5	1477 of 4710	68.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	50.9	2128 of 4647	54.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	56.0	1809 of 4581	60.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	52.1	1932 of 4578	57.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	73.0	958 of 4479	78.6%	★★★★☆
2018	41.0	2483 of 4359	43.0%	★★☆☆☆
2017	27.6	3287 of 4329	24.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	26.6	3446 of 4286	19.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	34.3	3142 of 4320	27.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	53.4	2131 of 4260	50.0%	★★☆☆☆
2013	48.8	2360 of 4221	44.1%	★★☆☆☆
2012	53.8	2058 of 4206	51.1%	★★★☆☆
2011	33.0	3256 of 4095	20.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	41.7	2756 of 3937	30.0%	★★☆☆☆
2009	48.5	2321 of 3884	40.2%	★★☆☆☆
2008	53.7	2001 of 3768	46.9%	★★☆☆☆
2007	37.6	2788 of 3724	25.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	25.1	3017 of 3476	13.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	28.4	2901 of 3475	16.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	44.9	2263 of 3465	34.7%	★★☆☆☆

At Risk

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2022	45.7	2400 of 4461	46.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	34.2	3043 of 4331	29.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	56.5	1540 of 4295	64.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	42.8	2442 of 4240	42.4%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2025	38.5	1836 of 2918	37.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	42.3	2069 of 3668	43.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	48.8	1740 of 3556	51.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	45.2	1935 of 3487	44.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	32.8	2504 of 3446	27.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	56.7	1240 of 3333	62.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	49.9	1504 of 3226	53.4%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	54.1	1862 of 4575	59.3%	★★★☆☆
2025	51.0	1699 of 3744	54.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	61.1	1510 of 4658	67.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	53.9	1926 of 4588	58.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	59.3	1594 of 4561	65.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	52.5	1886 of 4499	58.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	67.5	1131 of 4348	74.0%	★★★★☆
2018	39.5	2652 of 4306	38.4%	★★☆☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	65.3	1085 of 3075	64.7%	★★★☆☆
2025	59.7	1287 of 2619	50.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	46.8	2059 of 2980	30.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	52.3	1762 of 2958	40.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	48.9	1797 of 3006	40.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	70.9	746 of 3184	76.6%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	63.8	1260 of 4413	71.4%	★★★★☆
2025	58.7	1293 of 3644	64.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	71.4	893 of 4465	80.0%	★★★★☆
2023	57.1	1643 of 4401	62.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	63.8	1232 of 4376	71.8%	★★★★☆
2021	60.2	1353 of 4329	68.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	78.7	506 of 4188	87.9%	★★★★☆
2018	48.1	2050 of 4168	50.8%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	65.1	1139 of 4520	74.8%	★★★★☆
2025	55.9	1423 of 3705	61.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	69.1	966 of 4594	79.0%	★★★★☆
2023	61.1	1443 of 4521	68.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	66.4	1082 of 4477	75.8%	★★★★☆
2021	59.2	1444 of 4451	67.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	80.1	404 of 4309	90.6%	★★★★★
2018	53.6	1784 of 4264	58.2%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	60.0	1555 of 4582	66.1%	★★★☆☆
2025	54.4	1521 of 3739	59.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	61.0	1529 of 4647	67.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	47.9	2271 of 4585	50.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	52.8	2011 of 4563	55.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	50.5	1954 of 4498	56.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	73.7	869 of 4357	80.1%	★★★★☆
2018	41.7	2468 of 4319	42.9%	★★☆☆☆

Migrant

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2018	34.5	84 of 112	25.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Texas percentile	Rating
2026	45.0	2078 of 4301	51.7%	★★★☆☆
2025	68.4	714 of 3549	79.9%	★★★★☆
2024	59.6	1290 of 4292	69.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	45.4	1929 of 4086	52.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	57.2	1185 of 3952	70.0%	★★★★☆
2021	26.0	3113 of 3799	18.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	47.3	1574 of 3684	57.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	19.4	3310 of 3558	7.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

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)75th percentile+12 vs school

Hispanic (2026)71st percentile+9 vs school

Male (2026)66th percentile+3 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2026)65th percentile~ school

Female (2026)59th percentile-3 vs school

Special Education (2026)52nd percentile-11 vs school

At Risk (2022)46th percentile-14 vs school

English Language Learner (2025)37th percentile-15 vs school

Migrant (2018)25th percentile-18 vs school

By subject vs Texas (2025-2026) ?

Reading58%+4 vs state

Mathematics48%~ state avg

★

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Schools Near Raul Garza Junior Steam 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 English I Reading (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 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 Mathematics 3rd Grade	STAAR Mathematics 4th Grade	STAAR Mathematics 5th Grade	STAAR Mathematics 6th Grade	STAAR Mathematics 7th Grade	STAAR Social Studies 8th Grade	Total
Raul Garza Junior Steam Academy	Public	PK, KG-5	848 8th St	San Benito	78586	Cameron County	San Benito Consolidated Independent School District	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 361-6900	437	27	16.1	75.3%	12 (2.7%)	0 (0.0%)	425 (97.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	57.7	1728^th of 4627 public elementary schools	62.7%		48.6	2218^th of 4651 public elementary schools	52.3%	490			63.6	47.4	62.3			60.0	46.6	37.7				$10,537
Cash Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	400 N Ponciana St	San Benito	78586	Cameron County	San Benito Consolidated Independent School District	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 361-6700	611	36	16.9	82.2%	13 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	598 (97.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	64.6	1371^st of 4627 public elementary schools	70.4%		64.1	1376^th of 4651 public elementary schools	70.4%	5			56.1	66.3	55.8			50.6	47.5	59.5				$9,228
Sullivan Environmental Science Academy	Public	PK, KG-5	900 Elizabeth St	San Benito	78586	Cameron County	San Benito Consolidated Independent School District	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 361-6880	367	26	14.0	92.6%	13 (3.5%)	0 (0.0%)	354 (96.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	46.3	2314^th of 4627 public elementary schools	50.0%		53.7	1920^th of 4651 public elementary schools	58.7%	394			36.8	31.0	58.6			36.8	47.6	62.1				$9,987
Downs Fine Arts Academy	Public	PK, KG-5	1302 N Dowling	San Benito	78586	Cameron County	San Benito Consolidated Independent School District	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 361-6720	426	31	13.7	72.5%	21 (4.9%)	0 (0.0%)	403 (94.6%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	71.3	1082^nd of 4627 public elementary schools	76.6%		63.8	1391^st of 4651 public elementary schools	70.1%	309			65.4	52.8	59.6			55.8	56.6	68.1				$11,802
Fred Booth Global Leadership Academy	Public	PK, KG-5	705 Zaragoza St	San Benito	78586	Cameron County	San Benito Consolidated Independent School District	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 361-6860	441	28	15.9	93.2%	16 (3.6%)	0 (0.0%)	423 (95.9%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18.6	4123^rd of 4627 public elementary schools	10.9%		26.1	3662^nd of 4651 public elementary schools	21.3%	461			27.1	35.2	50.9			6.1	37.0	25.4				$9,600
Judge Oscar De La Fuente Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2700 S Sam Houston	San Benito	78586	Cameron County	San Benito Consolidated Independent School District	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 361-6820	271	20	13.5	83.0%	7 (2.6%)	2 (0.7%)	261 (96.3%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	40.8	2673^rd of 4627 public elementary schools	42.2%		39.6	2794^th of 4651 public elementary schools	39.9%	121			50.0	58.5	38.1			34.3	51.2	33.3				$13,726
Roberts Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	451 Biddle Ave	San Benito	78586	Cameron County	San Benito Consolidated Independent School District	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 361-6740	303	20	15.2	95.0%	6 (2.0%)	1 (0.3%)	296 (97.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15.1	4283^rd of 4627 public elementary schools	7.4%		16.7	4195^th of 4651 public elementary schools	9.8%	88			24.2	23.5	31.0			36.4	29.4	31.0				$11,094
Angela Gerusa Leal Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	33356 Fm 732	San Benito	78586	Cameron County	San Benito Consolidated Independent School District	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 276-5055	351	26	13.6	94.0%	3 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	347 (98.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	43	2519^th of 4627 public elementary schools	45.6%		52	2028^th of 4651 public elementary schools	56.4%	491			30.8	43.8	48.0			37.3	59.6	56.0				$10,268
Idea Academy San Benito	Public, Charter	K-5	2151 Russell Ln	San Benito	78586	Cameron County	Idea Public Schools	Yes	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 399-5252	685	36	18.9	80.3%	25 (3.6%)	4 (0.6%)	648 (94.6%)	5 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.4%)	62.7	1476^th of 4627 public elementary schools	68.1%		58.4	1652^nd of 4651 public elementary schools	64.5%	176			51.4	61.7	62.5			45.1	60.9	46.1				$10,983
Horizon Montessori III - Stem Academy	Public, Charter	PK, KG-8	2802 S 77 Sunshine Strip	Harlingen	78550	Cameron County	Horizon Montessori Public Schools	Yes	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 423-8200	291	19	15.0	70.8%	12 (4.1%)	0 (0.0%)	273 (93.8%)	6 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	40.6	2700^th of 4627 public elementary schools	41.6%		44.6	2466^th of 4651 public elementary schools	47.0%	234	62.5	87.5	40.9	37.9	61.1	53.3	40.0	50.0	37.9	38.9	33.3	40.0	37.5	$9,065

Frequently Asked Questions about Raul Garza Junior Steam Academy

Is Raul Garza Junior Steam Academy a good school?

Raul Garza Junior Steam Academy ranks 1728^th of 4627 Texas elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Raul Garza Junior Steam Academy?

Students at Raul Garza Junior Steam Academy are 97% Hispanic, 3% White.

What district is Raul Garza Junior Steam Academy in?

San Benito Consolidated Independent School District

How many students attend Raul Garza Junior Steam Academy?

In the 2024-25 school year, 437 students attended Raul Garza Junior Steam Academy.

Rate Raul Garza Junior Steam 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.