7.3 avg / 10

Best Schools in Laredo, Texas

91 schools · 55 Elementary · 16 Middle · 17 High · 3 Other

Last updated: July 2026

Public: 82

Private: 9

Districts: 4

Avg Rating: 7.3/10

Move-ready shortlistcity map + schools

Choosing a school in Laredo?

Use this page to compare every school in Laredo by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.

Explore the map How we rate schools

Shortlist starter

Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.

Elementary · Laredo ISD. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.

Elementary · United ISD. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.

Elementary · Laredo ISD. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.

The short answer

The top-rated schools in Laredo for 2026 are J Kawas EL (9.4/10), Kazen EL (9.4/10), and J C Martin JR EL (9.3/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 50 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.

Best value · beats the odds

J Kawas EL

Rates 9.4/10 despite 97% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.9 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 Laredo schools.

Most improved · 2022 → 2024

Macdonell EL

STAAR proficiency rose +47.0 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Laredo schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.

Top-Rated Schools in Laredo

Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (50 of 91). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.

#	School	Rating	Level	Value	State %ile
1	J Kawas EL	9.4 / 10	Elementary	+1.9	99th
2	Kazen EL	9.4 / 10	Elementary	+1.8	99th
3	J C Martin JR EL	9.3 / 10	Elementary	+1.9	99th
4	San Isidro EL	9.1 / 10	Elementary	+0.9	97th
5	Leyendecker EL	9.0 / 10	Elementary	+1.6	97th
6	Heights EL	8.7 / 10	Elementary	+1.2	94th
7	Farias EL	8.6 / 10	Elementary	+1.1	92th
8	Charles Borchers EL	8.6 / 10	Elementary	+0.6	92th
9	Freedom EL	8.6 / 10	Elementary	+1.1	92th
10	D D Hachar EL	8.5 / 10	Elementary	+1.0	91th

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: 7.3/10
Median household income: $58,793
Median home value: $170,780
Bachelor's degree or higher: 19%
Avg commute: 22 min
Owner-occupied homes: 61%

How Laredo compares

Texas rank

#152 of 654

cities by avg. school score

Vs. state average

+1.0

above Texas avg (6.3)

Median household income

$59k

79% of Texas median

Schools in this city

85

Education Snapshot

Laredo, Texas

Laredo's school landscape covers 91 schools across 4 districts, enrolling 64,446 students in a level mix that front-loads elementary: 55 elementary campuses versus 17 high schools and 16 middle schools. The average MySchoolScout composite rating of 7.2/10 across 85 scored schools clears the Texas state average of 6.3/10 by nearly a full point. That rating advantage holds alongside a median household income of $60,474 — 24% below the Texas state median of $79,932 — and an adult bachelor's attainment rate of 20%. Five charter schools operate within the city alongside the four traditional districts. Together, the 0.9-point rating margin above the state average and the 24% income gap below the state median define the Laredo school story: consistently above-average ratings in a market that trails Texas on every household income measure.

About Schools in Laredo, Texas

Laredo's public school system spans 78 ranked schools, from elementary through high school. The spread in performance is wide — a 9.4 at the city's best school sits alongside a citywide average of 4.4 out of 10 — so attendance zone matters more here than in cities where scores cluster near the top.

Only 4 of those 78 ranked schools score 7.0 or higher, representing just 5% of the total. That concentration of strong performers shapes how parents should approach school selection in Laredo. The majority of schools fall well below that threshold, making the handful of high-scorers a clear target for families who have flexibility in where they live.

J Kawas Elementary leads the city at 9.4 — nearly five full points above the average. Farias Elementary follows at 8.0. Both top performers are elementary schools, which is meaningful context for families with younger children. At the secondary level, Hector J. Garcia Early College High School tops the list at 7.8, offering college-credit coursework that provides a measurable academic advantage before students reach a four-year campus. F.S. Lara Academy (7.0) and Nixon High School (6.6) round out the top five — both above the city average and among the stronger high school options — though the tier above 7.0 remains thin across all grade levels in the city.

For parents relocating to Laredo, the practical takeaway is direct: start with the school zone map before finalizing a neighborhood. With only 4 schools clearing a 7.0 score across 78 ranked options, zoning is the primary lever families control. Elementary families should identify whether they fall in a Kawas or Farias attendance zone. High school families should look closely at Garcia's early college model — it's the clearest academic differentiator the city offers at that level, and planning for it should start in middle school.

Filter by Level: All Levels (91) Elementary (55) Middle (16) High (17)

Filter by Type: All Types (91) Public (82) Private (9)

Filter by Rating: All Ratings (91) Academics (78) Growth (76) Diversity (78) Resources (78)

Filter by ZIP: 78046 (23) 78041 (20) 78045 (18) 78040 (15) 78043 (15)

Elementary Schools

55 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	J Kawas EL 302 students · Pre-K–5th	302	Pre-K–5th	9.4
2	Kazen EL 364 students · Pre-K–5th	364	Pre-K–5th	9.4
3	J C Martin JR EL 446 students · Pre-K–5th	446	Pre-K–5th	9.3
4	San Isidro EL 815 students · Pre-K–5th	815	Pre-K–5th	9.1
5	Leyendecker EL 424 students · Pre-K–5th	424	Pre-K–5th	9.0
6	Heights EL 512 students · Pre-K–5th	512	Pre-K–5th	8.7
7	Farias EL 638 students · Pre-K–5th	638	Pre-K–5th	8.6
8	Charles Borchers EL 503 students · Pre-K–5th	503	Pre-K–5th	8.6
9	Freedom EL 664 students · Pre-K–5th	664	Pre-K–5th	8.6
10	D D Hachar EL 437 students · Pre-K–5th	437	Pre-K–5th	8.5

Show all 55 elementary schools in Laredo

Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.

Santa Maria EL Matias De Llano EL Pierce EL Ryan EL Macdonell EL Clark EL Judith Zaffirini EL Roberto J Santos EL Daiches EL T Sanchez EL / H Ochoa EL Newman EL Col Santos Benavides EL Trautmann EL Dovalina EL Bruni EL Tarver EL Franklin D Roosevelt EL Dr Malakoff EL Barbara Fasken EL Nye EL Henry Cuellar EL Sigifredo Perez EL Rodolfo C Centeno EL Ruiz EL Kennedy Zapata EL Veterans Memorial EL Finley EL Julia Bird Jones Muller EL Santo Nino EL Prada EL John W Arndt EL Radcliffe & Sue Killam EL Bonnie L Garcia EL H B Zachry EL Milton EL Amparo Gutierrez EL Don Jose Gallego Salinas EL Harmony School of Innovation - Laredo Ligarde EL Mary Help of Christians School Private St Augustine Elementary & Middle School Private Apple Bee Math and Science Academy Private Blessed Sacrament School Private Johnsons Daycare and Learning Center Private

Middle Schools

16 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Memorial Middle 664 students · 6th–8th	664	6th–8th	8.4
2	Elias Herrera Middle 1,055 students · 6th–8th	1,055	6th–8th	8.2
3	Antonio Gonzalez Middle 715 students · 6th–8th	715	6th–8th	8.1
4	United Middle 999 students · 6th–8th	999	6th–8th	8.0
5	Los Obispos Middle 658 students · 6th–8th	658	6th–8th	7.9
6	Raul Perales Middle 642 students · 6th–8th	642	6th–8th	7.9
7	Trautmann Middle 744 students · 6th–8th	744	6th–8th	7.5
8	Lamar Bruni Vergara Middle 717 students · 6th–8th	717	6th–8th	7.3
9	Joaquin Cigarroa Middle 1,064 students · 6th–8th	1,064	6th–8th	7.2
10	United South Middle 894 students · 6th–8th	894	6th–8th	7.1

Show all 16 middle schools in Laredo

Harmony Science Academy - Laredo Clark Middle Christen Middle George Washington Middle Lamar Middle Ricardo Molina Middle

High Schools

17 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Hector J Garcia Early College H S 383 students · 9th–12th	383	9th–12th	8.2
2	Harmony School of Excellence - Laredo 679 students · 9th–12th	679	9th–12th	7.9
3	United H S 3,567 students · 9th–12th	3,567	9th–12th	7.9
4	Nixon H S 2,099 students · 9th–12th	2,099	9th–12th	7.6
5	Martin H S 1,978 students · 9th–12th	1,978	9th–12th	7.5
6	John B Alexander H S 3,178 students · 9th–12th	3,178	9th–12th	7.4
7	United South H S 3,252 students · 9th–12th	3,252	9th–12th	6.7
8	Lyndon B Johnson 3,271 students · 9th–12th	3,271	9th–12th	6.5
9	Dr Leo Cigarroa H S 1,438 students · 8th–12th	1,438	8th–12th	6.4
10	Triumph Public High Schools-laredo South 110 students · 9th–12th	110	9th–12th	5.8

Show all 17 high schools in Laredo

Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.

F S Lara Academy Triumph Public High Schools-laredo North Webb County J J a E P Juvenille Justice Alternative Program Youth Recovery Home St Augustine High School Private Superior Academy of Loredo Private

Other Schools

3 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Youth Village Detention Center 21 students · 7th–11th	21	7th–11th	—
Private Schools 2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.
1	Champions Christian Academy Private 100 students · Pre-K–12th	100	Pre-K–12th	6.4
2	Mundo Montessori Private 27 students · UG–UG	27	UG–UG	—

Schools in Laredo

Laredo, Texas · 91 schools

Community Demographics

Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 5 ZIP codes

Median Income

$58,793

Median Home Value

$170,780

Median Rent

$1,047/mo

Population

266,398

College Educated

19%

Homeownership

61%

Avg Commute

22 min

Poverty Rate

22.4%

Community Profile

Laredo has a median household income of $58,793. It is a community where 19% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $170,780, with a median rent of $1,047/month. The area has a poverty rate of 22.4%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. The average commute for residents is 22 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Schools by Level

State: Texas
Elementary: 55
Middle: 16
High: 17
Other: 3

Resources

🔍 Google "Laredo schools" 🏫 GreatSchools Laredo 📊 Niche Laredo Rankings 📍 Google Maps: Schools

School Districts (4)

TRIUMPH PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS-LAREDO

2 schools · 258 students

HARMONY PUBLIC SCHOOLS - SOUTH TEXAS

9 schools · 4,855 students

LAREDO ISD

30 schools · 20,592 students

UNITED ISD

50 schools · 41,203 students

Nearby Cities

Lewisville (1 school)

1 mi

Rio Bravo (3 schools)

Other Major Cities in Texas

Top metros statewide by school count.

Houston 899 schools San Antonio 616 schools Dallas 480 schools Austin 339 schools Fort Worth 288 schools

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 rate

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about schools in Laredo, Texas

How many schools are in Laredo, Texas?

Laredo has 91 schools, including 82 public and 9 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.

What is the average school rating in Laredo, Texas?

The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Laredo is 7.3 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 Laredo, Texas?

The top-ranked school in Laredo on MySchoolScout is J Kawas EL with a composite score of 9.4/10.

What is the best elementary school in Laredo, Texas?

The top-ranked elementary school in Laredo on MySchoolScout is J Kawas EL with a composite score of 9.4/10.

What is the best middle school in Laredo, Texas?

The top-ranked middle school in Laredo on MySchoolScout is Memorial Middle with a composite score of 8.4/10.

What is the best high school in Laredo, Texas?

The top-ranked high school in Laredo on MySchoolScout is Hector J Garcia Early College H S with a composite score of 8.2/10.

How many school districts serve Laredo, Texas?

Laredo is served by 4 school districts: Triumph Public High Schools-laredo, Harmony Public Schools - South Texas, Laredo ISD, United ISD.

What is the education level in Laredo, Texas?

According to Census data, 19% of adults in Laredo have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the median income in Laredo, Texas?

The median household income in Laredo is approximately $58,793 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.

Are there private schools in Laredo, Texas?

Yes, Laredo has 9 private schools alongside 82 public schools. The top-rated private school is Champions Christian Academy with a score of 6.4/10.

What is the student-teacher ratio in Laredo, Texas?

The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Laredo is 15.4:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.

How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Laredo, 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.