Summary:
In the 79901 zip code of El Paso, Texas, three elementary schools—Hart Elementary, Aoy Elementary, and La Fe Preparatory School—serve students from Pre-Kindergarten through 5th grade, all facing extremely high levels of economic disadvantage with free/reduced lunch rates between 94.92% and 100%.
La Fe Preparatory School is the standout performer, earning a 4-star rating and ranking in the 80th percentile statewide, a dramatic improvement from the 45th percentile just three years prior. It achieves exceptional results despite having the lowest spending per student ($13,078) and the highest student-to-teacher ratio (15:1). In contrast, Aoy Elementary spends the most per student ($17,533) but struggles with the lowest overall performance, including a 0% proficiency rate in 3rd Grade Reading. Hart Elementary also faces significant challenges, though both Hart and Aoy have shown improvement, moving from the 6th percentile to the 29th and 33rd percentiles, respectively. Both Hart and Aoy are part of the El Paso Independent School District (Isd), which ranks in the 44th percentile statewide, while La Fe Preparatory School operates as its own charter district.
A key finding is that students at Hart and Aoy often perform better on the Spanish version of the STAAR test than the English version, highlighting the importance of bilingual education. However, a consistent weakness across all three schools is 5th Grade Science, where even the high-performing La Fe scored only 16.67% proficient, well below the state average of 29.57%. This suggests a systemic need for targeted science intervention in the area. Overall, La Fe Preparatory School serves as a model of rapid academic turnaround, proving that high poverty does not preclude high achievement, while the traditional public schools in the El Paso Independent School District (Isd) continue to work toward improvement.
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