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Best Public Schools in Zip Code 78520

At a glance

Schools

12,626

Students

Districts

5-star school

Top rankedBrownsville Early College High School17^th of 2,057 Texas high schools

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Biggest riser

Villa Nueva Elementary up 515 spots statewide this year

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Smallest classes

Stell Middle 13.1 students per teacher

SchoolDigger ratings

4★

3★

2★

See the top-ranked Texas schools →

Summary:

The 23 schools in zip code 78520 (Brownsville, TX) serve a diverse range of students from Pre-K through 12th grade, with the vast majority belonging to the Brownsville Independent School District (Isd) and a high average rate of economic disadvantage (~87% free/reduced lunch).

The standout academic performer is Brownsville Early College High School, ranked 17th in Texas (99th percentile) with near-perfect test scores and a 100% graduation rate, proving that high poverty does not limit excellence. Its counterpart, Veterans Memorial Early College High School, is the largest high school (2,216 students) and ranks in the 82nd percentile, consistently outperforming district and state averages. Among elementary schools, Benavides Elementary (89th percentile) and Pullam Elementary (87th percentile) lead, with reading and math scores 20-30 points above state averages. Bryss Academy (87th percentile) also excels despite a 95% poverty rate. In contrast, Triumph Public High Schools-Brownsville (9th percentile) struggles with a 76.5% graduation rate, while Harmony Science Academy - Brownsville (30th percentile) lags in elementary performance.

The "Early College" model is a clear success, with the top two high schools far outpacing others like Idea Riverview College Preparatory (69th percentile). The only traditional middle school, Stell Middle (32nd percentile), shows a stark split: its advanced students score 87-98% on EOC exams, while general population scores are very low (e.g., 1.64% proficient in 7th-grade math). Charter school performance varies widely, with Jubilee Living Way (89th percentile) and Bryss Academy excelling, while Harmony Science Academy and Triumph struggle. Spending per student ranges from $7,583 to $16,226, but higher spending does not guarantee better results—Brownsville Early College spends a modest $8,595 per student. Overall, the area offers several high-performing options, particularly in early college and select elementary schools, but families should carefully evaluate individual school data.

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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 Spanish Reading (2026)			STAAR Spanish Mathematics (2026)			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 Spanish Reading 3rd Grade	STAAR Spanish Reading 4th Grade	STAAR Spanish Reading 5th Grade	STAAR Spanish Mathematics 3rd Grade	STAAR Spanish Mathematics 4th Grade	STAAR Spanish Mathematics 5th Grade	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 3rd Grade	STAAR Reading 4th Grade	STAAR Reading 5th Grade	STAAR Reading 6th Grade	STAAR Reading 7th Grade	STAAR Reading 8th Grade	STAAR Mathematics 3rd Grade	STAAR Mathematics 4th Grade	STAAR Mathematics 5th Grade	STAAR Mathematics 6th Grade	STAAR Mathematics 7th Grade	STAAR Mathematics 8th Grade	STAAR Social Studies 8th Grade	Total
Bryss Academy	Public, Charter	PK, KG-8	2255 N Coria St	Brownsville	78520	Cameron County	Raul Yzaguirre Schools For Success	Yes	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 574-7100	555	29	18.8	95.0%	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	553 (99.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	84.9	582^nd of 4643 public elementary schools	87.5%		85.2	565^th of 4651 public elementary schools	87.9%	17	83.3	100.0	72.7				87.1					85.5	53.6	81.8	51.1	60.0	76.5	86.7	76.5	85.5	59.6	36.8	55.6	47.1	$11,605
Triumph Public High Schools-Brownsville	Public, Charter	9-12	944 E Los Ebanos Blvd	Brownsville	78520	Cameron County	Triumph Public High Schools-Rio Grande Valley	Yes	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 372-1433	122	5	22.7		0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	122 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8.4	1853^rd of 2057 public high schools	9.9%		12.6	1736^th of 1974 public high schools	12.1%	117							14.3	46.2	14.3	22.0	39.1														$11,320
Idea Riverview Academy	Public, Charter	K-5	30 Palm Dr	Brownsville	78520	Cameron County	Idea Public Schools	Yes	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 832-5900	714	33	21.9	94.3%	27 (3.8%)	0 (0.0%)	686 (96.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	39.6	2796^th of 4643 public elementary schools	39.8%		57.8	1682^nd of 4651 public elementary schools	63.8%	1114			14.3			0.0						26.7	40.5	52.5				24.2	51.6	66.1					$10,216
Idea Riverview College Preparatory	Public, Charter	6-12	30 Palm Dr	Brownsville	78520	Cameron County	Idea Public Schools	Yes	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 832-5900	813	46	17.7	94.3%	14 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	798 (98.2%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	62	638^th of 2057 public high schools	69.0%		54.8	789^th of 1974 public high schools	60.0%	151							75.5	74.7	50.4	61.5	81.1				64.4	68.2	66.2				65.3	68.2		39.5	$11,697
Yturria Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2955 W Tandy Rd	Brownsville	78520	Cameron County	Brownsville Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 350-3200	526	34	15.4	80.2%	5 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	518 (98.5%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	65	1353^rd of 4643 public elementary schools	70.9%		64.4	1363^rd of 4651 public elementary schools	70.7%	10												66.7	50.0	64.9				61.5	43.2	58.1					$10,852
Pace Early College High School	Public	9-12	314 W Los Ebanos Blvd	Brownsville	78520	Cameron County	Brownsville Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 548-7700	1,621	105	15.4	94.0%	7 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	1,613 (99.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	51.2	937^th of 2057 public high schools	54.4%		45.6	1027^th of 1974 public high schools	48.0%	90							73.6	59.1	47.8	60.5	69.5														$12,002
Garden Park Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	855 Military Hwy	Brownsville	78520	Cameron County	Brownsville Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 982-2630	372	25	14.6	98.9%	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	369 (99.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	66.2	1302^nd of 4643 public elementary schools	72.0%		56.3	1761^st of 4651 public elementary schools	62.1%	459												61.7	38.2	66.0				53.1	52.7	77.4					$12,832
Putegnat Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	730 E 8th St	Brownsville	78520	Cameron County	Brownsville Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 548-8930	444	27	16.2	100.0%	10 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)	431 (97.1%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	47.8	2229^th of 4643 public elementary schools	52.0%		46.1	2376^th of 4651 public elementary schools	48.9%	147		27.3	54.6		25.0	30.0						32.0	43.6	48.8				54.0	51.3	58.5					$11,253
Martin Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1701 Stanford Ave	Brownsville	78520	Cameron County	Brownsville Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 982-2730	415	27	15.4	87.2%	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	412 (99.3%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	55.3	1841^st of 4643 public elementary schools	60.3%		55.4	1809^th of 4651 public elementary schools	61.1%	32												47.8	49.0	50.9				41.3	53.9	69.8					$13,173
Russell Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	800 Lakeside Blvd	Brownsville	78520	Cameron County	Brownsville Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 548-8960	418	27	15.4	97.8%	6 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	412 (98.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	60.1	1616^th of 4643 public elementary schools	65.2%		53.7	1923^rd of 4651 public elementary schools	58.7%	307												41.5	47.1	65.5				35.9	64.8	76.4					$12,552
Sharp Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1439 Palm Blvd	Brownsville	78520	Cameron County	Brownsville Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 982-2930	432	27	15.8	88.4%	5 (1.2%)	1 (0.2%)	426 (98.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	70.8	1102^nd of 4643 public elementary schools	76.3%		70.7	1103^rd of 4651 public elementary schools	76.3%	1			40.0									54.2	63.5	58.8				39.0	69.8	87.3					$10,721
Skinner Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	411 W St Charles St	Brownsville	78520	Cameron County	Brownsville Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 982-2830	344	24	14.4	99.7%	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	344 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	41.7	2619^th of 4643 public elementary schools	43.6%		38.9	2842^nd of 4651 public elementary schools	38.9%	223		20.0			0.0	20.0						38.9	36.0	44.4				61.1	32.0	65.2					$11,606
Stell Middle	Public	6-8	1105 Los Ebanos Blvd	Brownsville	78520	Cameron County	Brownsville Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 548-8560	733	56	13.1	91.7%	7 (1.0%)	2 (0.3%)	724 (98.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	34.6	1591^st of 2359 public middle schools	32.6%		31.1	1693^rd of 2344 public middle schools	27.8%	102							87.9	95.6	98.5						45.0	50.6	40.4				28.3	1.6	42.3	21.9	$12,108
Villa Nueva Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	7455 Old Military Rd	Brownsville	78520	Cameron County	Brownsville Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 542-3957	346	25	13.6	85.5%	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	345 (99.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	45.2	2382^nd of 4643 public elementary schools	48.7%		38.4	2897^th of 4651 public elementary schools	37.7%	515												41.0	49.1	58.9				35.9	32.7	57.9					$12,220
Benavides Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3101 McAllen Rd	Brownsville	78520	Cameron County	Brownsville Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 350-3250	818	54	15.2	78.9%	10 (1.2%)	2 (0.2%)	801 (97.9%)	5 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	87.3	489^th of 4643 public elementary schools	89.5%		90	369^th of 4651 public elementary schools	92.1%	120												60.6	69.1	81.7				57.9	71.7	81.0					$10,235
Veterans Memorial Early College High School	Public	9-12	1000 Charger Ln	Brownsville	78520	Cameron County	Brownsville Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 574-5600	2,216	133	16.6	64.0%	27 (1.2%)	2 (0.1%)	2,174 (98.1%)	13 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	73.8	358^th of 2057 public high schools	82.6%		67.8	479^th of 1974 public high schools	75.7%	121							71.3	73.1	68.4	77.9	83.9														$9,608
Pullam Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3200 Madrid Ave	Brownsville	78520	Cameron County	Brownsville Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 547-3700	889	52	16.9	67.6%	17 (1.9%)	2 (0.2%)	862 (97.0%)	6 (0.7%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	84.9	583^rd of 4643 public elementary schools	87.4%		91.6	313^th of 4651 public elementary schools	93.3%	270												78.3	61.6	64.3				74.5	70.7	68.8					$9,732
Keller Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2540 W Alton Gloor	Brownsville	78520	Cameron County	Brownsville Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 547-4400	537	36	14.7	85.8%	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	532 (99.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	63	1466^th of 4643 public elementary schools	68.4%		56	1778^th of 4651 public elementary schools	61.8%	312												52.9	57.5	48.7				50.0	58.9	64.1					$11,121
Brownsville Early College High School	Public	9-12	343 Ringgold Rd	Brownsville	78520	Cameron County	Brownsville Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 698-1476	311	15	20.1	94.2%	3 (1.0%)	2 (0.6%)	302 (97.1%)	4 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	93.7	17^th of 2057 public high schools	99.2%		93.5	25^th of 1974 public high schools	98.7%	8							100.0	95.1	98.1	98.6	94.4														$8,306

Cities Near Zip Code 78520

City	Distance	# of Schools	Statewide Rank
Brownsville	0.74 mi	79	367^th
Olmito	2.88 mi	2	97^th
San Benito	6.67 mi	35	412^th
Los Fresnos	6.76 mi	4	195^th
Harlingen	15.2 mi	34	286^th

See the top TX Texas cities

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.