Summary:
Zip code 78578, serving the Port Isabel area, is home to a single high school, Port Isabel Early College High School, which serves grades 9-12 and is part of the Point Isabel Independent School District (ISD).
Port Isabel Early College High School has an enrollment of 585 students and a favorable student-teacher ratio of 13.3:1, suggesting smaller class sizes. The school has shown a gradual improvement in its state ranking over the last three years, moving from the 42nd percentile to the 35th percentile, though it remains in the bottom half of Texas high schools. Its graduation rate is 89.5%, matching the district average, with a low dropout rate of 0.8%. A standout feature is its "Early College" designation, which offers students the chance to earn college credit. However, the school serves a predominantly low-income population, with 82% of students eligible for free or reduced lunch, a key context for understanding its performance.
The most critical finding is a significant weakness in Algebra I, where only 25.89% of students are proficient—less than half the state average of 54.03%. This subject is a major driver of the school's overall ranking. In contrast, U.S. History proficiency (68.42%) is nearly on par with the state average (70.17%), indicating a strength in social studies. The school also showed strong year-over-year improvement in Biology, jumping from 47.41% to 62.2% proficiency, and modest gains in English I and II. This progress, however, is offset by a decline in Algebra I. The "Early College" paradox is notable: despite the program's rigorous focus, math scores do not reflect an advantage, likely due to the broader academic challenges tied to the high poverty rate.
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