Best Schools in Harlingen, Texas
38 schools · 23 Elementary · 6 Middle · 7 High · 2 Other
Choosing a school in Harlingen?
Use this page to compare every school in Harlingen by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Harlingen School of Health Professions
High · Harlingen CISD. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Lee H Means EL
Elementary · Harlingen CISD. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Idea Harlingen College Preparatory
Middle · Idea Public Schools. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Harlingen for 2026 are Harlingen School of Health Professions (9.4/10), Lee H Means EL (9.1/10), and Idea Harlingen College Preparatory (8.4/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 35 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
38
34 public · 4 private
Avg Score
6.7
out of 10
Median Home
$137,500
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Schools
38
34 public · 4 private
Avg Score
6.7
out of 10
Median Home
$137,500
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Rates 8.4/10 despite 86% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.0 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Harlingen schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +14.6 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Harlingen schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Harlingen
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (35 of 38). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harlingen School of Health Professions | 9.4 / 10 |
| 2 | Lee H Means EL | 9.1 / 10 |
| 3 | Idea Harlingen College Preparatory | 8.4 / 10 |
| 4 | Harlingen Collegiate H S | 8.4 / 10 |
| 5 | Dr Hesiquio Rodriguez EL | 7.8 / 10 |
| 6 | St Albans Episcopal Day School | 7.8 / 10 |
| 7 | Wilson EL | 7.7 / 10 |
| 8 | Idea Harlingen Academy | 7.6 / 10 |
| 9 | Moises Vela Middle | 7.5 / 10 |
| 10 | Memorial Middle | 7.4 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 6.7/10
- Median household income
- $59,354
- Median home value
- $137,500
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 22%
- Avg commute
- 18 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 64%
42% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Harlingen compares
Texas rank
#286 of 654
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.5
above Texas avg (6.3)
Median household income
$59k
80% of Texas median
Schools in this city
36
About Schools in Harlingen, Texas
Harlingen's public school system spans 32 ranked campuses, covering elementary through high school. The city's average school score is 5.4 out of 10 — a number that reflects a wide performance range underneath it. A portion of schools pull well above that average while others cluster near or below it. Parents who compare campuses carefully will find the spread significant.
Four schools, 12% of Harlingen's ranked total, score 7.0 or higher. Harlingen School of Health Professions leads the city with an 8.4 — the top score among all ranked campuses and a strong fit for students drawn to healthcare and science pathways. Harlingen H S - South follows at 8.0, making it the city's second-highest-rated school and a competitive choice at the secondary level. Harlingen H S earns a 7.0, rounding out three high-performing high school options inside one city — an unusual concentration that gives families with older students real alternatives within reach. At the middle school level, IDEA Harlingen College Preparatory scores 7.2, the highest-rated middle campus in the ranked set. Wilson Elementary earns a 6.8, the top score among ranked elementary schools.
The concentration of high performers at the high school level stands out. Three of the four 7+ schools serve grades 9–12, which means families with younger children are navigating a more uneven elementary and middle school picture. With a citywide average of 5.4, school selection carries more weight in Harlingen than in cities where performance is consistently strong across all grade levels.
Practically, zoning determines default placement, but Harlingen's charter option — IDEA Harlingen College Preparatory — gives middle school families a high-performing alternative worth applying for early. Parents of elementary-aged students should compare individual campus scores rather than treating neighborhood schools as interchangeable. The top-rated campuses exist at every level; finding them requires active comparison rather than relying on proximity alone.
Elementary Schools
23 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 713 students · Pre-K–5th | 9.1 |
| 2 | 625 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.8 |
| 3 | 379 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.7 |
| 4 | 636 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.6 |
| 5 | 218 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten | 7.4 |
| 6 | 321 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.3 |
| 7 | 316 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.2 |
| 8 | 308 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.2 |
| 9 | 272 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.9 |
| 10 | 334 students · Pre-K–8th | 6.5 |
Show all 23 elementary schools in Harlingen
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
6 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 350 students · 6th–9th | 8.4 |
| 2 | 744 students · 6th–8th | 7.5 |
| 3 | 741 students · 6th–8th | 7.4 |
| 4 | 806 students · 6th–8th | 7.3 |
| 5 | 696 students · 6th–8th | 6.4 |
| 6 | 717 students · 6th–8th | 4.9 |
High Schools
7 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 377 students · 8th–12th | 9.4 | ||
| 2 | 360 students · 9th–12th | 8.4 | ||
| 3 | 1,600 students · 9th–12th | 6.9 | ||
| 4 | 1,931 students · 9th–12th | 5.8 | ||
| 5 | 88 students · 6th–12th | 5.2 | ||
| 6 | 2 students · 9th–12th | — | ||
| Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Marine Military Academy
Private
225 students · 7th–12th | 6.8 | ||
Other Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,035 students · 9th–9th | 6.2 |
| 2 | 10 students · 9th–11th | — |
Schools in Harlingen
Harlingen, Texas · 38 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 2 ZIP codes
Median Income
$59,354
Median Home Value
$137,500
Median Rent
$959/mo
Population
95,446
College Educated
22%
Homeownership
64%
Avg Commute
18 min
Poverty Rate
22.5%
Community Profile
Harlingen has a median household income of $59,354. It is a community where 22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $137,500, with a median rent of $959/month. The area has a poverty rate of 22.5%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. Residents enjoy a short average commute of 18 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Texas
- Elementary
- 23
- Middle
- 6
- High
- 7
- Other
- 2
Resources
Nearby Cities
Other Major Cities in Texas
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Harlingen, Texas
How many schools are in Harlingen, Texas?
Harlingen has 38 schools, including 34 public and 4 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Harlingen, Texas?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Harlingen is 6.7 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Harlingen, Texas?
The top-ranked school in Harlingen on MySchoolScout is Harlingen School of Health Professions with a composite score of 9.4/10.
What is the best elementary school in Harlingen, Texas?
The top-ranked elementary school in Harlingen on MySchoolScout is Lee H Means EL with a composite score of 9.1/10.
What is the best middle school in Harlingen, Texas?
The top-ranked middle school in Harlingen on MySchoolScout is Idea Harlingen College Preparatory with a composite score of 8.4/10.
What is the best high school in Harlingen, Texas?
The top-ranked high school in Harlingen on MySchoolScout is Harlingen School of Health Professions with a composite score of 9.4/10.
How many school districts serve Harlingen, Texas?
Harlingen is served by 3 school districts: Horizon Montessori Public Schools, Idea Public Schools, Harlingen CISD.
What is the education level in Harlingen, Texas?
According to Census data, 22% of adults in Harlingen have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Harlingen, Texas?
The median household income in Harlingen is approximately $59,354 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Harlingen, Texas?
Yes, Harlingen has 4 private schools alongside 34 public schools. The top-rated private school is St Albans Episcopal Day School with a score of 7.8/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Harlingen, Texas?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Harlingen is 13.3:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Harlingen, Texas?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
Related reading
- Best Public Schools in Texas 2026: Top-Ranked Elementary, Middle & High Schoolsbest schools
- Best School Districts to Move To in 2026: A Data-Driven Guidebest schools
- Best Schools in Austin, TX — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best Schools in Dallas, TX — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best Schools in Fort Worth, TX — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.
Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Texas Education Agency, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.