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Excellent

#336 of 8,547 schools in TX

Top 4% in state

Elvis J Ballew H S

High School · PHARR-SAN JUAN-ALAMO ISD

1100 E HWY 83, Pharr, TX 78577

Enrollment

136

Student-Teacher

8.5:1

Score

8.7

Grades

9th – 12th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Pharr

#2 of 36

public schools

Texas high schools

#53 of 1,699

In district

#2 of 42

PHARR-SAN JUAN-ALAMO ISD

Academic growth

10.0 / 10

Exceptional

About Elvis J Ballew H S

Elvis J Ballew H S is a public high school in Pharr, TX, part of the PHARR-SAN JUAN-ALAMO ISD. The school serves approximately 136 students in grades 9th – 12th with a student-teacher ratio of 8.5:1. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.7/10, placing it in the 96.1th percentile among TX schools — an above average rating overall.

Students demonstrate 45% proficiency in math and 14% in reading/language arts. The school scores particularly well in student growth (10.0/10). Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $49,768, where 18% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

The school is situated in a small city setting.

What's said publicly about Elvis J Ballew H S

Sources: School's website

Synthesized from public, attributable sources. Updated May 2026.

Elvis J. Ballew High School is part of the PSJA ISD district, where all high schools are designated as Early College campuses. This designation allows students to attend college and high school simultaneously, with the opportunity to graduate with up to an Associate Degree or 60 college credit hours before high school graduation 1 . The district highlights its innovative Early College model and recent expansions of P-TECH opportunities to meet workforce demands 1 . While the district notes that numerous elementary campuses are National Blue Ribbon Schools, specific awards for Elvis J. Ballew High School are not detailed in the provided text 1 . Recent news from the district includes a senior from PSJA ECHS earning a full-ride Terry Scholarship to UT Austin and another senior signing a swimming scholarship with UIW 1 . Additionally, the district reported that over 500 seniors earned Seals of Biliteracy at the 18th Annual Biliteracy Certification Ceremony 1 .
Sources (1)
  1. psjaisd.us
Generated by AI from public sources. Every claim is grounded in a cited source. Report inaccuracy

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 136 students, Elvis J Ballew H S is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.

With a student-teacher ratio of 8.5:1, Elvis J Ballew H S offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress10.0Exceptional25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data2
Annual Change+20.62 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2021
TrendImproving
Academics9.1Exceptional25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency75%
Reading/ELA Proficiency25%
Overall Proficiency50%
Expected (poverty-adj.)21%
vs. Expected+28.5 pts
Adjusted Percentile86th
College Readiness6.6Above Average30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment9.7Exceptional20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio8.5:1
Per-Pupil Spending$14,594

Elvis J Ballew H S — Students at Elvis J Ballew H S score 50% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 21%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

97.8%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores TX EDFACTS (2020-21)

Math Proficiency 45.0%
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 13.8%
School
State
N/A

Based on 4 test records from TX state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↑ Improving

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

2019
Math
15%
ELA
2.5%
2021*
Math
75%
ELA
25%

* 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: 10.0/10.

How Elvis J Ballew H S Compares

See how Elvis J Ballew H S performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.7/10
96th percentile in TX
Academic
9.1/10
9.1/10
Growth
10.0/10
Above average
Environment
9.7/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
98%
Teaching Staff
9:1 student-teacher ratio
16 teachers

Location

1100 E HWY 83, Pharr, TX 78577

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Elvis J Ballew H S may also want to explore other high schools in the area. PSJA THOMAS JEFFERSON T-STEM EARLY COLLEGE H S (rated 8.9/10, 0.3 miles away), with a very similar rating. Another option is PSJA EARLY COLLEGE H S (rated 8.2/10, 1.0 miles away, in nearby San Juan), with a comparable rating. Additionally, BUELL CENTRAL DAEP (rated 7.3/10, 0.8 miles away), a more accessible option. For more schools in Pharr, see our Pharr schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.7 mi
School Distance Rating
VANGUARD REMBRANDT Pharr 0.2 mi 4.4
THE PHARR ORATORY OF ST PHILIP NERI SCHOOL SYSTEM Pharr 0.2 mi 6.3
PSJA THOMAS JEFFERSON T-STEM EARLY COLLEGE H S Pharr 0.3 mi 8.9
KELLY-PHARR EL Pharr 0.6 mi 3.6
HENRY FORD EL Pharr 0.8 mi 2.6
PSJA SOTOMAYOR BUILDING BLOCKS ACADEMY Pharr 0.8 mi 4.4
PSJA EARLY START Pharr 0.8 mi 5.5
BUELL CENTRAL DAEP Pharr 0.8 mi 7.3
PSJA COLLEGIATE SCHOOL OF HEALTH PROFESSIONS San Juan 0.9 mi
LIBERTY MIDDLE Pharr 0.8 mi 7.4
VANGUARD PICASSO Edinburg 0.8 mi 3.0
PSJA EARLY COLLEGE H S San Juan 1.0 mi 8.2
IDEA ACADEMY SAN JUAN San Juan 1.0 mi 4.3
EDITH & ETHEL CARMAN EL San Juan 1.2 mi 3.5
AUSTIN MIDDLE San Juan 1.4 mi 4.2
JOHN DOEDYNS EL San Juan 1.6 mi 3.8
AIDA C ESCOBAR EL Pharr 1.5 mi 4.1
RAUL LONGORIA EL Pharr 1.7 mi 2.9
LYNDON B JOHNSON MIDDLE Pharr 1.8 mi 4.4
ALFRED SORENSEN EL San Juan 1.7 mi 3.8

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 78577 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$49,768

Median Home Value

$111,500

Median Rent

$988/mo

Population

79,903

College Educated

17.5%

Homeownership

58.6%

Avg Commute

22.1 min

Poverty Rate

29.9%

Median Age

29.5

Community Profile

The community surrounding Elvis J Ballew H S has a median household income of $49,768. It is a community where 18% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $111,500, with a median rent of $988/month. The area has a poverty rate of 29.9%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. The average commute for residents is 22 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
CHIRENO H S Chireno, TX 8.7
HAPPY H S Happy, TX 8.7
SPRINGLAKE-EARTH H S Earth, TX 8.7
BOLES H S Quinlan, TX 8.6
BRAZOS SUCCESS ACADEMY Freeport, TX 8.6
CAYUGA H S Cayuga, TX 8.6

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Elvis J Ballew H S

What grades does Elvis J Ballew H S serve?

Elvis J Ballew H S serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Elvis J Ballew H S?

Elvis J Ballew H S has an enrollment of approximately 136 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Elvis J Ballew H S?

The student-teacher ratio at Elvis J Ballew H S is 8.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Elvis J Ballew H S rank in TX?

Elvis J Ballew H S is ranked #336 out of 8,547 schools in TX.

What is Elvis J Ballew H S's MySchoolScout rating?

Elvis J Ballew H S has a composite rating of 8.7 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Elvis J Ballew H S?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Elvis J Ballew H S has 45.0% math proficiency and 13.8% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Elvis J Ballew H S a charter school?

No, Elvis J Ballew H S is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Elvis J Ballew H S a Title I school?

No, Elvis J Ballew H S is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Elvis J Ballew H S?

97.8% of students at Elvis J Ballew H S 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
57 Somewhat Walkable
Bike Score
44 Somewhat Bikeable
City Safety
Elevated (1,362/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Pharr). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
136
Student-Teacher Ratio
8.5:1
Teachers (FTE)
16
Free/Reduced Lunch
97.8%
Type
alternative
Setting
Small City
County
Hidalgo County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

PHARR-SAN JUAN-ALAMO ISD
District Enrollment
30,008
Schools in District
44
Per-Pupil Spending
$14,411
District Rank
#2 of 42

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 methodology

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