Skip to main content

Average

#4561 of 8,552 schools in TX

Ben Milam EL

Elementary School · Harlingen CISD · Harlingen, TX

A Harlingen CISD elementary school where students score 12 points above what's typical for similar communities.

407 N 77 SUNSHINE STRIP, Harlingen, TX 78550

  • Math 44% vs TX 44% (2024)
  • Reading 45% vs TX 54% (2024)
  • 13.7:1 student-teacher ratio

Academics

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress4.6Below Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-4.16 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendDeclining
Academics7.4Very Good30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency44% (2024 STAAR)
Reading/ELA Proficiency45% (2024 STAAR)
Math vs. State Avg+0.4 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-9.3 pts
Overall Proficiency45% (2024 STAAR, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)33% (model expectation from 2024 STAAR)
vs. Expected+11.7 pts
Adjusted Percentile62th
Resources & Environment8.3Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio13.7:1
District spending per student$13,586
Chronic Absenteeism18.9%

Students at Ben Milam EL score 44% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 33%).

How we calculate scores →

2024 STAAR proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. TX average.

Math Proficiency44%(2024 STAAR)
School
State
44%(2024 STAAR)
ELA Proficiency45%(2024 STAAR)
School
State
54%(2024 STAAR)

Trend

↑ Recovering

Proficiency declined earlier in the 16-year record (2009–2024), then recovered 30 points since 2020, reaching 45% in 2024.

Show all 15 years
2009
Math
87%
ELA
82%
2010
Math
91%
ELA
85%
2011
Math
83%
ELA
86%
2012
Math
67%
ELA
72%
2013
Math
77%
ELA
67%
2014
Math
77%
ELA
82%
2015
Math
82%
ELA
77%
2016
Math
87%
ELA
77%
2017
Math
57%
ELA
47%
2018
Math
57%
ELA
42%
2019
Math
57%
ELA
42%
2020*
Math
12%
ELA
17%
2021*
Math
12%
ELA
17%
2022
Math
30%
ELA
35%
2024
Math
44%
ELA
45%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 61% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 58% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Based on 30 test records from TX state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

98.9%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

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

The neighborhood

Where Ben Milam EL sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.

Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.

Getting around & local context

  • Walk 16Car-Dependent
  • Bike 36Somewhat Bikeable
  • City Safety: High2,994/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Harlingen), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details

Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.

Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)

Median income

$51,524

Median home value

$120,500

Median rent

$863/mo

College educated

21.7%

Homeownership

52.7%

Poverty rate

24.3%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 78550; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented ProgramAvailable
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students.·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Lamar ELEnrollment path unverified5.0PK–51.3 mi426Compare →
Bowie ELEnrollment path unverified7.2PK–51.4 mi316Compare →
Houston ELEnrollment path unverified5.7PK–51.4 mi416Compare →
Dishman ELEnrollment path unverified7.3PK–5Not available321Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

Harlingen CISD

Schools in district
31
Rank in district
#18 of 29
District spending per student
$13,586NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
28.2%Census SAIPE · 2024

Ben Milam EL is listed in HARLINGEN CISD; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Ben Milam EL

Ben Milam EL is a public elementary school in Harlingen, TX, part of Harlingen CISD, serving approximately 370 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 13.7:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.2 out of 10 and ranks #4,561 of 8,552 schools in TX. State assessment records show 61% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 58% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Ben Milam EL

What grades does Ben Milam EL serve?

Ben Milam EL serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Ben Milam EL?

Ben Milam EL has an enrollment of approximately 370 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Ben Milam EL?

The student-teacher ratio at Ben Milam EL is 13.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Ben Milam EL rank in TX?

Ben Milam EL ranks #4,561 of 8,552 schools in TX.

What is Ben Milam EL's MySchoolScout rating?

Ben Milam EL has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.2 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Ben Milam EL?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Ben Milam EL has 61% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 58% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Is Ben Milam EL a charter school?

No, Ben Milam EL is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Ben Milam EL a Title I school?

No, Ben Milam EL is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Ben Milam EL?

98.9% of students at Ben Milam EL qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
370
Student-Teacher Ratio
13.7:1
Teachers (FTE)
27
Type
regular
Setting
Small City
County
Cameron County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
18.9%
Area population (ZIP 78550)
54,169
Area average commute
18.4 min
Area median age
33.6
About this school's data

Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.

School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
  • Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
MySchoolScout rating and rank
MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
Math proficiency
State department of education · 2024 STAAR · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2024 STAAR. A newer release may be available.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Reading/ELA proficiency
State department of education · 2024 STAAR · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2024 STAAR. A newer release may be available.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Student progress (growth)
NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
  • Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
  • Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 78550; this does not measure the attendance area.
Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.

Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2024; directory SY 2023–24

About our data · How we calculate scores

Related reading

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.