Skip to main content

Excellent

#1539 of 8,552 schools in TX

Top 18% in state

Castaneda EL

Elementary School · MCALLEN ISD

4100 N 34TH, Mcallen, TX 78504

Enrollment

441

Student-Teacher

14.2:1

Score

8.0

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Texas schools

#1,539 of 8,552

In Mcallen

#13 of 37

public schools

In district

#12 of 30

MCALLEN ISD

Equity

9.2 / 10

Excellent

School shortlistprofile + nearby

Shortlisting around Castaneda EL?

Use this profile as one decision point, then compare nearby options, source confidence, and commute fit before picking a neighborhood around it.

Shortlist starter

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

Castaneda EL

8.0/10

Elementary School in Mcallen · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

De Leon Middle

7.5/10

0.3 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Covenant Christian Academy

5.4/10

0.3 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Castaneda EL

Castaneda EL is a public elementary school in Mcallen, TX, part of MCALLEN ISD. Castaneda EL serves approximately 441 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio. Castaneda EL has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.0 out of 10 and ranks #1,539 of 8,552 schools in TX.

Structured state assessment records for Castaneda EL show 69% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 71% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

How it compares0.6 pts above district
  • This school 8.0 · Excellent
  • District avg 7.4
  • TX avg 6.2

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress7.7Very Good50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-3.09 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendDeclining
Academics8.8Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency51% (2024 STAAR)
Reading/ELA Proficiency66% (2024 STAAR)
Math vs. State Avg+7.4 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+11.7 pts
Overall Proficiency59% (2024 STAAR, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)43% (model expectation from 2024 STAAR)
vs. Expected+15.7 pts
Adjusted Percentile81th
Resources & Environment7.7Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio14.2:1
Per-Pupil Spending$13,409
Chronic Absenteeism20.2%

Castaneda EL — Students at Castaneda EL score 58% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 43%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

74.1%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores TX STAAR (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 68.9% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
School
State
43.6% (2024 STAAR)
ELA Proficiency 70.8% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
School
State
54.3% (2024 STAAR)

Based on 30 test records from TX state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
92%
ELA
93%
2010
Math
93%
ELA
94%
2011
Math
88%
ELA
94%
2012
Math
74%
ELA
84%
2013
Math
81%
ELA
83%
2014
Math
69%
ELA
80%
2015
Math
77%
ELA
80%
2016
Math
87%
ELA
80%
2017
Math
62%
ELA
52%
2018
Math
60%
ELA
53%
2019
Math
60%
ELA
53%
2020*
Math
42%
ELA
42%
2021*
Math
42%
ELA
42%
2022
Math
54.9%
ELA
65.3%
2024
Math
51%
ELA
66%

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

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 7.7/10.

How Castaneda EL Compares

See how Castaneda EL performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.0/10
82th percentile in TX
Academic
8.8/10
Excellent
Growth
7.7/10
Very Good
Environment
7.7/10
Very Good
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
74%
Teaching Staff
14:1 student-teacher ratio
31 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
20.2%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

4100 N 34TH, Mcallen, TX 78504

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Castaneda EL may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. MILAM EL (rated 8.9/10, 1.6 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is RAYBURN EL (rated 8.6/10, 2.3 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, LUCILE HENDRICKS EL (rated 8.3/10, 1.1 miles away), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Mcallen, see our Mcallen schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.3 mi
School Distance Rating
DE LEON MIDDLE Mcallen 0.3 mi 7.5
COVENANT CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Mcallen 0.3 mi 5.4
MCAULIFFE EL Mcallen 0.7 mi 6.3
SOUTHWEST KEY PROGRAM Mcallen 0.9 mi
QUEST COLLEGIATE ACADEMY-MCALLEN Lewisville 1.0 mi 5.6
LUCILE HENDRICKS EL Mcallen 1.1 mi 8.3
SEGUIN EL Mcallen 1.2 mi 5.9
DONNA WERNECKE EL Mission 1.3 mi 6.7
ROWE H S Mc Allen 1.3 mi 7.8
GARZA EL Mcallen 1.3 mi 6.9
SHARYLAND NORTH J H Mission 1.4 mi 7.6
MCALLEN H S Mcallen 1.5 mi 8.0
ACHIEVE EARLY COLLEGE H S Mcallen 1.7 mi 9.5
MILAM EL Mcallen 1.6 mi 8.9
SOUTH TEXAS CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Mcallen 1.7 mi 6.0
ALVAREZ EL Mcallen 2.2 mi 6.4
MICHAEL E FOSSUM MIDDLE Mcallen 2.2 mi 8.5
ST JOHNS EPISCOPAL DAY SCHOOL Mcallen 2.1 mi 6.1
RAYBURN EL Mcallen 2.3 mi 8.6
JACKSON EL Mcallen 2.3 mi 7.2

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 78504 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$77,627

Median Home Value

$203,900

Median Rent

$1,178/mo

Population

61,816

College Educated

40.4%

Homeownership

68.5%

Avg Commute

23.5 min

Poverty Rate

13%

Median Age

32.5

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
ALTON EL Brenham, TX 8.0
AUSTIN ACHIEVE PFLUGERVILLE Pflugerville, TX 8.0
BEARD EL Helotes, TX 8.0
CALDER ROAD EL Dickinson, TX 8.0
CHALLENGER EL Pearland, TX 8.0
COLONY BEND EL Sugar Land, TX 8.0

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Castaneda EL

What grades does Castaneda EL serve?

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

How many students attend Castaneda EL?

Castaneda EL has an enrollment of approximately 441 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Castaneda EL?

The student-teacher ratio at Castaneda EL is 14.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Castaneda EL rank in TX?

Castaneda EL ranks #1,539 of 8,552 schools in TX.

What is Castaneda EL's MySchoolScout rating?

Castaneda EL has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.0 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 Castaneda EL?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Castaneda EL has 69% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 71% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Is Castaneda EL a charter school?

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

Is Castaneda EL a Title I school?

No, Castaneda EL is not currently a Title I school.

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

74.1% of students at Castaneda 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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
48 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
38 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
441
Student-Teacher Ratio
14.2:1
Teachers (FTE)
31
Free/Reduced Lunch
74.1%
Type
regular
Setting
Midsize City
County
Hidalgo County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
20.2%

District

MCALLEN ISD
District Enrollment
20,095
Schools in District
31
Per-Pupil Spending
$13,409
District Rank
#12 of 30

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

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.