Best Schools in Mcallen, Texas
44 schools · 27 Elementary · 7 Middle · 8 High · 2 Other
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 6.1/10
- Median household income
- $58,614
- Median home value
- $161,000
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 31%
- Avg commute
- 21 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 59%
22% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Mcallen compares
Texas rank
#496 of 654
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.1
below Texas avg (6.2)
Median household income
$59k
79% of Texas median
Schools in this city
41
About Schools in Mcallen, Texas
McAllen's public school system spans 37 ranked schools with an average score of 5.9 out of 10 — a city-wide baseline that reflects real performance variation across campuses. Parents should know that 10 of those 37 schools, or 27%, score 7 or higher, meaning strong options exist but require deliberate search rather than assuming neighborhood assignment will land a child in a top performer.
The ceiling is genuinely high. Milam Elementary leads all ranked schools at 9.0 out of 10, the only campus in McAllen to reach that tier. Just behind it, Achieve Early College High School scores 8.9, making it the strongest secondary option in the city and a standout for students ready for college-level coursework. Memorial High School rounds out the top three at 8.6. At the elementary level, Dr. Pablo Perez and Gonzalez Elementary both score 8.5, giving families with younger children two additional proven options worth prioritizing.
The spread from the city average (5.9) to the top school (9.0) is 3.1 points — a wide enough gap that school choice within McAllen matters significantly. Parents moving to the area or weighing attendance zones should treat a 7-or-above score as the practical threshold for strong performance: 27% of schools clear that bar, which means roughly one in four campuses delivers well above the city norm. Schools below that line are not necessarily failing, but the performance gap versus the top tier is material and worth weighing against commute and housing factors.
For families focused on college preparation, Achieve Early College High School is the clearest priority — a near-9.0 rated school with a structure built around accelerated coursework. Families with elementary-age children have the most options in the top tier, with three schools scoring 8.5 or above. The practical takeaway: McAllen rewards research. The gap between an average assignment and the city's best schools is large enough to make campus-level due diligence one of the highest-leverage decisions a family can make here.
Elementary Schools
27 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 748 students · Pre-K–5th | 9.0 | ||
| 2 | 543 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.5 | ||
| 3 | 792 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.4 | ||
| 4 | 510 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.9 | ||
| 5 | 418 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.8 | ||
| 6 | 342 students · Pre-K–8th | 6.7 | ||
| 7 | 441 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.5 | ||
| 8 | 456 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.4 | ||
| 9 | 419 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.3 | ||
| 10 | 409 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.5 | ||
| 11 | 392 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.4 | ||
| 12 | 445 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.3 | ||
| 13 | 480 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.3 | ||
| 14 | 493 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.1 | ||
| 15 | 362 students · Pre-K–5th | 4.5 | ||
| 16 | 567 students · Pre-K–5th | 4.5 | ||
| 17 | 769 students · Kindergarten–5th | 4.3 | ||
| 18 | 465 students · Pre-K–5th | 4.3 | ||
| 19 | 694 students · Kindergarten–5th | 4.0 | ||
| 20 | 566 students · Pre-K–5th | 4.0 | ||
| 21 | 772 students · Kindergarten–5th | 3.9 | ||
| 22 | 450 students · Pre-K–5th | 3.4 | ||
| Private Schools 5 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | ST PAUL LUTHERAN SCHOOL
Private
110 students · Pre-K–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | ST JOHNS EPISCOPAL DAY SCHOOL
Private
154 students · Pre-K–6th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | COVENANT CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
Private
243 students · Pre-K–8th | Not Rated | ||
Show 2 more elementary schools
| 4 | TAYLOR CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
Private
7 students · Kindergarten–5th | Not Rated |
| 5 | KIDS VILLAGE MONTESSORI LRNNG
Private
19 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten | Not Rated |
Middle Schools
7 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,036 students · 6th–8th | 7.7 |
| 2 | 486 students · 6th–8th | 6.3 |
| 3 | 721 students · 6th–8th | 6.3 |
| 4 | 829 students · 6th–8th | 6.2 |
| 5 | 818 students · 6th–8th | 6.2 |
| 6 | 640 students · 6th–10th | 5.0 |
| 7 | 583 students · 6th–8th | 5.0 |
High Schools
8 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2,060 students · 8th–12th | 8.9 |
| 2 | 410 students · 9th–12th | 8.9 |
| 3 | 2,152 students · 9th–12th | 8.8 |
| 4 | 32 students · 6th–12th | 7.5 |
| 5 | 807 students · 6th–12th | 6.1 |
| 6 | 99 students · 9th–12th | 6.1 |
| 7 | 644 students · 6th–12th | 5.9 |
| 8 | 139 students · 9th–12th | 4.9 |
Other Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 students · 10th–11th | — | ||
| 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 | SOUTH TEXAS CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
Private
184 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
Schools in Mcallen
Mcallen, Texas · 44 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 3 ZIP codes
Median Income
$58,614
Median Home Value
$161,000
Median Rent
$1,069/mo
Population
143,477
College Educated
31%
Homeownership
59%
Avg Commute
21 min
Poverty Rate
21.7%
Community Profile
Mcallen has a median household income of $58,614. It is an area where 31% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $161,000, with a median rent of $1,069/month. The area has a poverty rate of 21.7%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. The average commute for residents is 21 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Quick Facts
- State
- Texas
- Total Schools
- 44
- Elementary
- 27
- Middle
- 7
- High
- 8
- Districts
- 4
- Avg Rating
- 6.1/10
Resources
Nearby Cities
Other Major Cities in Texas
Top metros statewide by school count.
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
Read our full methodologyFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Mcallen, Texas
How many schools are in Mcallen, Texas?
Mcallen has 44 schools, including 38 public and 6 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Mcallen, Texas?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Mcallen is 6.1 out of 10, based on academic achievement, student growth, equity, and school environment.
What is the top-ranked school in Mcallen, Texas?
The top-ranked school in Mcallen on MySchoolScout is Milam EL with a composite score of 9.0/10.
What is the best elementary school in Mcallen, Texas?
The top-ranked elementary school in Mcallen on MySchoolScout is Milam EL with a composite score of 9.0/10.
What is the best middle school in Mcallen, Texas?
The top-ranked middle school in Mcallen on MySchoolScout is Morris Middle with a composite score of 7.7/10.
What is the best high school in Mcallen, Texas?
The top-ranked high school in Mcallen on MySchoolScout is Memorial H S with a composite score of 8.9/10.
How many school districts serve Mcallen, Texas?
Mcallen is served by 4 school districts: Horizon Montessori Public Schools, Triumph Public High Schools-rio Grande Valley, Idea Public Schools, Mcallen ISD.
What is the education level in Mcallen, Texas?
According to Census data, 31% of adults in Mcallen have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Mcallen, Texas?
The median household income in Mcallen is approximately $58,614 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Mcallen, Texas?
Yes, Mcallen has 6 private schools alongside 38 public schools. The top-rated private school is St Paul Lutheran School with a score of 6.9/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Mcallen, Texas?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Mcallen is 13.8:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Mcallen, 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 based on four components: Academic Achievement, Student Growth, Equity, and School Environment.
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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.