Summary:
This analysis examines eight elementary schools in zip code 78043, serving the Laredo and Rio Bravo areas of Texas, which are split between the Laredo Independent School District (Isd) and the United Independent School District (Isd) and serve predominantly low-income communities with an average free/reduced lunch rate of 91.84%.
The clear standout in this area is Ryan Elementary, which ranks in the 99th percentile statewide with a 5-star rating, achieving proficiency rates 30-40 points above the state average despite 86.93% of its students being economically disadvantaged. D D Hachar Elementary shows dramatic year-over-year improvement, reaching the 90th percentile in 2024-2025 with exceptional 5th-grade scores, though its performance is volatile. Santo Nino Elementary excels in 5th Grade Science, with 59.7% proficiency—double the state average—despite having the highest poverty rate at 97.97%. Among UISD schools, Freedom Elementary performs solidly in the 78th percentile, while Ruiz Elementary and Juarez/Lincoln Elementary rank in the 70th and 69th percentiles respectively. Milton Elementary is the lowest performer at the 55th percentile, and Sigifredo Perez Elementary ranks 61st.
Overall, LISD schools significantly outperform UISD schools, with an average state percentile rank of 81.3 compared to 68.8 for UISD. Science remains a major weakness across most schools, with only D D Hachar and Santo Nino exceeding state averages. Notably, higher spending does not guarantee success—Ryan Elementary spends a moderate $10,011 per student while achieving top results, whereas D D Hachar spends the most at $12,071 but shows inconsistent performance. The average student-teacher ratio is 15.1:1, and the average spending per student is $10,642.
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