Summary:
Zip code 78017 in Dilley, Texas, is served by three public schools in the Dilley Independent School District (Isd), which educates 841 students from elementary through high school in a community facing significant economic challenges, with over 72% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch.
The standout school in this area is Mary Harper Middle, which has shown the strongest improvement trend, climbing from the 13th to the 38th percentile in state rankings over three years. Its 8th-grade math program is a clear bright spot, with 71.88% of students proficient—nearly 25 percentage points above the state average. In contrast, Dilley Elementary is the weakest link, ranking in the 3rd percentile statewide and scoring 20-30 points below state averages in reading and math, despite having the highest poverty rate (83.83%) and the lowest spending per student ($11,135). Dilley High School presents a mixed picture: it has a strong 94.4% graduation rate and the highest per-student spending ($15,600), but its academic performance is volatile, including a dramatic 32-point swing in Algebra I proficiency from one year to the next.
Key takeaways for parents include a notable inverse relationship between spending and need, as the elementary school with the highest poverty receives the least funding. Social studies is a consistent weakness across the middle and high schools, with proficiency rates well below state averages. The middle school’s zero dropout rate and exceptional 8th-grade math performance suggest targeted strengths, while the high school’s Algebra I volatility warrants a closer look at curriculum changes. Overall, the district faces significant academic hurdles, but Mary Harper Middle offers a promising trajectory for families seeking improvement.
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