Summary:
This analysis examines six high schools in the 78577 zip code of Pharr, Texas, serving grades 9-12 across two districts: the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District (Isd) and Idea Public Schools, in a community where over 93% of students are economically disadvantaged.
The standout performer is Psja Thomas Jefferson T-Stem Early College High School, which achieves a 4-star rating and ranks in the 83rd percentile statewide despite 95% of its students being economically disadvantaged. Its proficiency rates in Algebra I (92.59%), Biology (81.01%), and English II (82.31%) far exceed district and state averages. In contrast, the other two early college high schools in the same district show mixed results: Psja North Early College High School (41st percentile) and Psja Southwest Early College High School (32nd percentile) perform near or below state averages. The two Idea charter schools also vary, with Idea College Preparatory Pharr (55th percentile) outperforming Idea Owassa College Preparatory (34th percentile), while spending less per student than PSJA ISD schools.
Graduation rates are high across all schools, ranging from 95.3% to 98.1%, with Psja Thomas Jefferson T-Stem and Buell Central Daep reporting 0.0% dropout rates. Buell Central Daep, a disciplinary alternative program, stands out for its unique mission with a 7.3:1 student-to-teacher ratio and per-student spending of $103,893—nearly 10 times the average of other schools. A consistent strength across almost all schools is U.S. History proficiency, with both Idea schools exceeding the state average of 70.17%.
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