Summary:
The 12 schools in zip code 78526 (Brownsville, TX) serve a diverse community of students from elementary through high school, managed by several districts including the high-performing Los Fresnos Consolidated Independent School District and the larger Brownsville Independent School District (Isd), as well as charter networks like Idea Public Schools and Harmony Public Schools - South Texas.
The standout schools in this area are clearly from the Los Fresnos CISD. Rancho Verde Elementary and Olmito Elementary are top-tier, ranking in the 92nd and 93rd percentiles statewide with 5-star ratings, and their test scores far exceed state averages. Resaca Middle is the only dedicated middle school and excels in advanced coursework, achieving near-100% proficiency in Algebra I and Biology. Among high schools, Harmony School Of Innovation - Brownsville stands out with a 98.9% graduation rate and strong academic performance despite a high percentage of economically disadvantaged students. In contrast, Idea Sports Park Academy is the lowest-performing elementary school, ranking in the 15th percentile with a 1-star rating and test scores well below state averages.
Key metrics show the average free/reduced lunch rate across all schools is 80.6%, indicating significant economic need, yet high poverty does not preclude success—Pena Elementary and Harmony School of Innovation are strong counterexamples. Spending per student varies widely, from $9,129 at Rancho Verde to $19,871 at Idea Sports Park Academy, but higher spending does not correlate with better performance. The most dramatic gaps appear in advanced coursework, where Resaca Middle achieves near-perfect scores while Jubilee Leadership Academy and Promesa College Prep Brownsville lag significantly. Overall, the Los Fresnos CISD schools consistently outperform others, while charter school performance is highly variable, making school-by-school evaluation essential for parents.
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