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Excellent

#1410 of 8,552 schools in TX

Top 17% 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

8.1

Grades

9th – 12th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Texas schools

#1,410 of 8,552

In Pharr

#10 of 36

public schools

In district

#11 of 42

PHARR-SAN JUAN-ALAMO ISD

Equity

9.9 / 10

Excellent

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Elvis J Ballew H S

8.1/10

High School in Pharr · grades 9th – 12th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Vanguard Rembrandt

6.7/10

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

The Pharr Oratory of St Philip Neri School System

6.3/10

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

About Elvis J Ballew H S

Elvis J Ballew H S is a public high school in Pharr, TX, part of PHARR-SAN JUAN-ALAMO ISD. Elvis J Ballew H S serves approximately 136 students, and covers grades 9th-12th, and has a 8.5:1 student-teacher ratio. Elvis J Ballew H S has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.1 out of 10 and ranks #1,410 of 8,552 schools in TX.

Structured state assessment records for Elvis J Ballew H S show 42% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 33% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

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
How it comparesOn par with district
  • This school 8.1 · Excellent
  • District avg 8.0
  • TX avg 6.3

What Parents Should Know

At 136 students, Elvis J Ballew H S is on the smaller side. That usually buys more individual attention and teachers who know every kid by name, with the trade-off of fewer electives and extracurriculars than a larger school can staff. Ask what activities it actually offers.

At 8.5:1 students to teachers, Elvis J Ballew H S sits well below the national average. Smaller classes like that usually mean more one-on-one time between students and teachers.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress9.6Excellent25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-0.35 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendStable
Academics9.5Excellent25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency65% (2024 STAAR)
Reading/ELA Proficiency69% (2024 STAAR)
Math vs. State Avg+21.4 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+14.7 pts
Overall Proficiency67% (2024 STAAR, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)33% (model expectation from 2024 STAAR)
vs. Expected+33.8 pts
Adjusted Percentile91th
College Readiness4.6Below Average30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate57%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment9.7Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio8.5:1
Per-Pupil Spending$14,411
Chronic Absenteeism8.1%

Elvis J Ballew H S — Students at Elvis J Ballew H S score 67% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 33%).

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 STAAR (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 41.6% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
School
State
43.6% (2024 STAAR)
ELA Proficiency 32.7% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
School
State
54.3% (2024 STAAR)

Based on 28 test records from TX state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↑ Improving

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

2009
Math
30%
ELA
49.5%
2010
Math
30%
ELA
90%
2011
Math
30%
ELA
69.5%
2012
Math
34.5%
ELA
44.5%
2013
Math
34.5%
ELA
22%
2014
Math
52%
ELA
26%
2015
Math
47%
ELA
13%
2016
Math
67%
ELA
12%
2017
Math
12%
ELA
7.5%
2018
Math
15%
ELA
2.5%
2019
Math
15%
ELA
2.5%
2020*
Math
75%
ELA
24.5%
2021*
Math
75%
ELA
25%
2024
Math
65%
ELA
69%

* 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: 9.6/10.

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
8.1/10
84th percentile in TX
Academic
9.5/10
Excellent
Growth
9.6/10
Excellent
Environment
9.7/10
Excellent
Advanced STEM
2/5
Subjects offered

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
98%
Teaching Staff
9:1 student-teacher ratio
16 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
8.1%

Programs & Offerings

Advanced STEM Courses2 of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC 2021-22

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

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 9.5/10, 0.3 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is PSJA EARLY COLLEGE H S (rated 8.7/10, 1.0 miles away, in nearby San Juan), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, BUELL CENTRAL DAEP (rated 5.4/10, 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 6.7
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 9.5
KELLY-PHARR EL Pharr 0.6 mi 6.8
HENRY FORD EL Pharr 0.8 mi 5.2
PSJA SOTOMAYOR BUILDING BLOCKS ACADEMY Pharr 0.8 mi 5.3
PSJA EARLY START Pharr 0.8 mi 4.2
BUELL CENTRAL DAEP Pharr 0.8 mi 5.4
PSJA COLLEGIATE SCHOOL OF HEALTH PROFESSIONS San Juan 0.9 mi
LIBERTY MIDDLE Pharr 0.8 mi 8.3
VANGUARD PICASSO Edinburg 0.8 mi 5.9
PSJA EARLY COLLEGE H S San Juan 1.0 mi 8.7
IDEA ACADEMY SAN JUAN San Juan 1.0 mi 4.8
EDITH & ETHEL CARMAN EL San Juan 1.2 mi 6.7
AUSTIN MIDDLE San Juan 1.4 mi 8.5
JOHN DOEDYNS EL San Juan 1.6 mi 6.2
AIDA C ESCOBAR EL Pharr 1.5 mi 7.9
RAUL LONGORIA EL Pharr 1.7 mi 5.6
LYNDON B JOHNSON MIDDLE Pharr 1.8 mi 7.7
ALFRED SORENSEN EL San Juan 1.7 mi 7.0

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

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
BRACKETT H S Brackettville, TX 8.1
DETROIT H S Detroit, TX 8.1
MAY H S May, TX 8.1
MEMPHIS H S Memphis, TX 8.1
SEYMOUR H S Seymour, TX 8.1
ALTO H S Alto, TX 8.2

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 ranks #1,410 of 8,552 schools in TX.

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

Elvis J Ballew H S has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.1 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 Elvis J Ballew H S?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Elvis J Ballew H S has 42% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 33% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

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

Powered by Walk Score

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
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
8.1%
4-Year Graduation
57.0%

District

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

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