Best High Schools in Zip Code 78560

Zip code 78560 in La Joya, TX, is home to four high schools within the La Joya Independent School District (Isd), serving grades 6 through 12 and ranging from a small alternative campus to a large comprehensive high school, all with high levels of economic disadvantage.

The standout schools in this area are the two early college high schools. Thelma Rosa Salinas Stem Early College High School and Jimmy Carter Early College High School are academic leaders, ranking in the top 10% of Texas high schools with 5-star and 4-star ratings, 100% graduation rates, and STAAR proficiency scores around 80%. In stark contrast, La Joya High School, the largest school with over 2,400 students, ranks in the bottom 20% of Texas high schools with a 1-star rating and an average STAAR proficiency of just 31.8%. Hope Academy is an anomaly, serving only 78 students with a very high per-student spending of $36,585, but lacking recent test scores or a state ranking, making its performance unclear.

A key takeaway is that high poverty does not prevent high performance, as both early college schools serve over 85% economically disadvantaged students yet achieve top state rankings. The dramatic performance gap—nearly 50 percentage points in STAAR proficiency—between the early college schools and La Joya High School highlights the powerful impact of the early college model. The district's overall 2-star rating is likely dragged down by La Joya High School's struggles, while the smaller, high-performing magnets elevate its profile. For parents, the early college schools clearly offer the best academic outcomes in the area, while La Joya High School presents significant challenges despite serving a similar student population.