Summary:
This analysis examines 16 elementary schools in the 78550 zip code of Harlingen, Texas, serving grades Pre-K through 5th (with some exceptions), and highlights a diverse range of academic performance and socioeconomic conditions across the area.
The standout academic leader is Lee H Means Elementary, the only school to achieve a 5-star rating for three consecutive years, ranking in the 94th percentile statewide with test scores far exceeding district and state averages. In contrast, Jefferson Elementary is the lowest-performing school, holding a 1-star rating and ranking in the 27th percentile. A compelling high-poverty, high-performance story is Bowie Elementary, which despite a 93.43% free/reduced lunch rate, consistently earns a 4-star rating and ranks in the 78th percentile, with outstanding 4th and 5th grade math and science scores. The most improved school is Travis Elementary, which jumped from the 34th to the 66th percentile in one year. The vast majority of schools belong to the Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District (4-star, 71st percentile), while the single charter, Horizon Montessori III - Stem Academy (under the Horizon Montessori Public Schools district, 3-star, 64th percentile), ranks lower at the 42nd percentile.
Key takeaways include that socioeconomic status does not determine outcomes, as schools like Bowie and Ben Milam Elementary (97.17% FRL, 3-star) achieve strong results despite high poverty. Per-student spending also does not guarantee success, with top-performing Lee H Means spending a modest $9,228 per student compared to the highest spender, Zavala Elementary ($12,895), which ranks in the 67th percentile. A universal weakness across the zip code is 5th Grade Science, where scores are often below the state average of 29.57%, except for outliers like Bowie (64.52%). Significant ranking volatility is seen in schools like Zavala Elementary and Houston Elementary, which both jumped over 20 percentile points in one year.
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