5.7 avg / 10

Best Schools in Mercedes, Texas

15 schools · 5 Elementary · 2 Middle · 6 High · 2 Other

Last updated: July 2026

Public: 14

Private: 1

Districts: 3

Avg Rating: 5.7/10

Estimated Scores: 8%

Move-ready shortlistcity map + schools

Choosing a school in Mercedes?

Use this page to compare every school in Mercedes 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.

High · South Texas ISD. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.

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

The short answer

The top-rated schools in Mercedes for 2026 are South Texas ISD Science Academy (9.3/10), South Texas ISD Health Professions (8.7/10), and Mercedes Early College Academy (6.9/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 12 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

Taylor EL

Rates 5.8/10 despite 96% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 0.9 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 Mercedes schools.

Most improved · 2022 → 2024

Ruben Hinojosa EL

STAAR proficiency rose +8.7 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Mercedes schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.

Top-Rated Schools in Mercedes

Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (12 of 15). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.

#	School	Rating	Level	Value	State %ile
1	South Texas ISD Science Academy	9.3 / 10	High	-0.3	99th
2	South Texas ISD Health Professions	8.7 / 10	High	+0.7	93th
3	Mercedes Early College Academy	6.9 / 10	High	+0.5	59th
4	Ruben Hinojosa EL	6.3 / 10	Elementary	+0.7	48th
5	Taylor EL	5.8 / 10	Elementary	+0.9	39th
6	John F Kennedy EL	5.4 / 10	Elementary	+0.3	32th
7	Mercedes Academic Academy	5.3 / 10	High	+0.7	30th
8	Triumph Public High Schools-mercedes	5.2 / 10	High	—	29th
9	Sgt Manuel Chacon Middle	4.9 / 10	Middle	-0.8	23th
10	Sgt William G Harrell Middle	4.6 / 10	Middle	-0.1	19th

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: 5.7/10
Median household income: $39,890
Median home value: $83,400
Bachelor's degree or higher: 12%
Avg commute: 22 min
Owner-occupied homes: 74%

How Mercedes compares

Texas rank

#502 of 654

cities by avg. school score

Vs. state average

-0.6

below Texas avg (6.3)

Median household income

$40k

54% of Texas median

Schools in this city

13

About Schools in Mercedes, Texas

Mercedes, Texas is home to 15 schools, including 14 public schools and 1 private school. The city's schools span 5 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 6 high schools.

With an average rating of 5.7 out of 10, schools in Mercedes show moderate performance on the MySchoolScout composite scale, which blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.

The highest-performing school in Mercedes is South Texas ISD Science Academy with a composite score of 9.3/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.

Mercedes is served by 3 school districts: TRIUMPH PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS-RIO GRANDE VALLEY, MERCEDES ISD, SOUTH TEXAS ISD. These districts collectively serve 9,389 students.

Mercedes's community shows 12% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $39,890. The poverty rate in the area is 34.5%.

Browse the schools below to compare ratings, test scores, enrollment, and other key metrics. Use the filters to focus on specific school levels or types that match your family's needs.

Filter by Level: All Levels (15) Elementary (5) Middle (2) High (6)

Filter by Type: All Types (15) Public (14) Private (1)

Filter by Rating: All Ratings (15) Academics (14) Growth (12) Diversity (13) Resources (14)

Filter by ZIP: 78570 (15)

Elementary Schools

5 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Ruben Hinojosa EL 487 students · Pre-K–5th	487	Pre-K–5th	6.3
2	Taylor EL 426 students · Pre-K–5th	426	Pre-K–5th	5.8
3	John F Kennedy EL 414 students · Pre-K–5th	414	Pre-K–5th	5.4
4	Travis EL 494 students · Pre-K–5th	494	Pre-K–5th	4.3
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	Immanuel Lutheran School Private 15 students · Pre-K–5th	15	Pre-K–5th	—

Middle Schools

2 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Sgt Manuel Chacon Middle 587 students · 6th–8th	587	6th–8th	4.9
2	Sgt William G Harrell Middle 388 students · 6th–8th	388	6th–8th	4.6

High Schools

6 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	South Texas ISD Science Academy 846 students · 9th–12th	846	9th–12th	9.3
2	South Texas ISD Health Professions 797 students · 9th–12th	797	9th–12th	8.7
3	Mercedes Early College Academy 349 students · 9th–12th	349	9th–12th	6.9
4	Mercedes Academic Academy 148 students · 9th–12th	148	9th–12th	5.3
5	Triumph Public High Schools-mercedes 101 students · 9th–12th	101	9th–12th	5.2
6	Mercedes H S 895 students · 8th–12th	895	8th–12th	3.8

Other Schools

2 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Mercedes Early Literacy Program 205 students · Pre-K–Pre-K	205	Pre-K–Pre-K	3.0
2	South Texas ISD Virtual Academy 181 students · 6th–11th	181	6th–11th	—

Schools in Mercedes

Mercedes, Texas · 15 schools

Community Demographics

Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code

Median Income

$39,890

Median Home Value

$83,400

Median Rent

$686/mo

Population

33,596

College Educated

12%

Homeownership

74%

Avg Commute

22 min

Poverty Rate

34.5%

Community Profile

Mercedes has a median household income of $39,890. It is a community where 12% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $83,400, with a median rent of $686/month. The area has a poverty rate of 34.5%, 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: 5
Middle: 2
High: 6
Other: 2

Resources

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

School Districts (3)

TRIUMPH PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS-RIO GRANDE VALLEY

4 schools · 465 students

MERCEDES ISD

10 schools · 4,393 students

SOUTH TEXAS ISD

7 schools · 4,531 students

Nearby Cities

Santa Maria (5 schools)

7 mi

Santa Rosa (3 schools)

Lewisville (7 schools)

12 mi

Alamo (12 schools)

13 mi

Harlingen (38 schools)

14 mi

Monte Alto (3 schools)

16 mi

San Juan (14 schools)

15 mi

Port Isabel (1 school)

16 mi

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 Mercedes, Texas

How many schools are in Mercedes, Texas?

Mercedes has 15 schools, including 14 public and 1 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.

What is the average school rating in Mercedes, Texas?

The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Mercedes is 5.7 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 Mercedes, Texas?

The top-ranked school in Mercedes on MySchoolScout is South Texas ISD Science Academy with a composite score of 9.3/10.

What is the best elementary school in Mercedes, Texas?

The top-ranked elementary school in Mercedes on MySchoolScout is Ruben Hinojosa EL with a composite score of 6.3/10.

What is the best middle school in Mercedes, Texas?

The top-ranked middle school in Mercedes on MySchoolScout is Sgt Manuel Chacon Middle with a composite score of 4.9/10.

What is the best high school in Mercedes, Texas?

The top-ranked high school in Mercedes on MySchoolScout is South Texas ISD Science Academy with a composite score of 9.3/10.

How many school districts serve Mercedes, Texas?

Mercedes is served by 3 school districts: Triumph Public High Schools-rio Grande Valley, Mercedes ISD, South Texas ISD.

What is the education level in Mercedes, Texas?

According to Census data, 12% of adults in Mercedes have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the median income in Mercedes, Texas?

The median household income in Mercedes is approximately $39,890 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.

Are there private schools in Mercedes, Texas?

Yes, Mercedes has 1 private school alongside 14 public schools.

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

The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Mercedes is 15.8:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.

How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Mercedes, 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.