Harlingen CISD School District
School District · Harlingen, Texas
Avg Rating
7.5
out of 10
Schools
31
18 elem, 5 mid, 6 high
Enrollment
16,780
Student-Teacher Ratio
13.8:1
Avg Rating
7.5
out of 10
Schools
31
18 elem, 5 mid, 6 high
Enrollment
16,780
Student-Teacher Ratio
13.8:1
How this district compares
Texas rank
#103 of 900
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
+1.2
above Texas avg
Per-pupil spending
$13,586
+$618 vs Texas median
District size
16,780 students
Much larger than Texas median
The short answer
Harlingen CISD ranks #103 of 900 Texas districts by overall school rating. Harlingen CISD's schools with real test data average 7.5/10 across 28 schools. Its top-rated schools are Dishman EL (9.0/10), Wilson EL (8.9/10), and Houston EL (8.7/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 9.0/10 despite 95% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.4 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 CISD schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +14.6 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Harlingen CISD schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Harlingen CISD
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (28 of 31). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dishman EL | 9.0 / 10 |
| 2 | Wilson EL | 8.9 / 10 |
| 3 | Houston EL | 8.7 / 10 |
| 4 | Lee H Means EL | 8.5 / 10 |
| 5 | Long EL | 8.5 / 10 |
| 6 | Memorial Middle | 8.4 / 10 |
| 7 | Bonham EL | 8.3 / 10 |
| 8 | Harlingen Collegiate H S | 8.3 / 10 |
| 9 | Moises Vela Middle | 8.2 / 10 |
| 10 | Ben Milam EL | 8.2 / 10 |
See all 31 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Harlingen CISD
Harlingen CISD is a Harlingen, Texas school district serving 31 schools.The district educates 16,780 students with a student-teacher ratio of 13.8:1. District-level spending was $13,586 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 7.5/10, Harlingen CISD is among the strongest-performing districts in the state.
The highest-rated school in the district is Dishman EL, which has a composite score of 9.0/10.
In standardized testing, Harlingen CISD students show an average math proficiency of 59.6% and ELA proficiency of 61.0%.
The district includes 18 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, and 6 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Harlingen CISD, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Harlingen CISD with test data.
Schools in Harlingen CISD
31 schoolsElementary Schools18
Middle Schools5
High Schools6
Other Schools2
District Details
- State
- Texas
- City
- Harlingen
- Total Enrollment
- 16,780
- Teachers (FTE)
- 1,213
- District spending per student
- $13,586NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 28.2%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Harlingen CISD?
Harlingen CISD has 31 schools in total — 18 elementary, 5 middle, and 6 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Harlingen CISD?
The average composite rating for Harlingen CISD is 7.5/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the district spending per student in Harlingen CISD?
Harlingen CISD's district-level spending was $13,586 per student in fiscal year 2023, according to NCES F-33. This is district context, not an individual-school expense.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Harlingen CISD?
The average student-teacher ratio in Harlingen CISD is 13.8:1.
What is the top-rated school in Harlingen CISD?
Dishman EL is the highest-rated school in Harlingen CISD with a composite score of 9.0/10.
What are the test scores in Harlingen CISD?
Across schools in Harlingen CISD with test data, the average math proficiency is 59.6% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 61.0%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Harlingen CISD compare to other districts in Texas?
Harlingen CISD has an average school rating of 7.5/10 across 31 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in Texas by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 7.5/10
- Math Proficiency
- 59.6%
- ELA Proficiency
- 61.0%
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 rateOther School Districts in TX
Compare Harlingen CISD with neighboring districts in the state.
- Houston ISD (274)
- Dallas ISD (240)
- Fort Worth ISD (138)
- Northside ISD (126)
- Austin ISD (123)
- Idea Public Schools (123)
- San Antonio ISD (98)
- Cypress-Fairbanks ISD (93)
- Fort Bend ISD (83)
- Aldine ISD (80)
- Garland ISD (78)
- Katy ISD (78)
- Frisco ISD (77)
- Plano ISD (77)
- Arlington ISD (75)
- EL Paso ISD (75)
- North East ISD (75)
- Pasadena ISD (67)
- Conroe ISD (66)
- Lewisville ISD (62)
- Round Rock ISD (60)
- Brownsville ISD (56)
- Kipp Texas Public Schools (56)
- Amarillo ISD (55)
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.
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