Average
#5846 of 8,552 schools in TX
John F Kennedy EL
Elementary School · MERCEDES ISD
P O BOX 419, Mercedes, TX 78570
Enrollment
414
Student-Teacher
13.8:1
Score
5.4
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
414
Student-Teacher
13.8:1
Score
5.4
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Data vintage
2022-23
Data vintage2022-23
How this school compares
Texas schools
#5,846 of 8,552
In Mercedes
#6 of 13
public schools
In district
#4 of 10
MERCEDES ISD
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John F Kennedy EL
Elementary School in Mercedes · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.
Immanuel Lutheran School
0.3 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
Taylor EL
0.5 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
About John F Kennedy EL
John F Kennedy EL is a public elementary school in Mercedes, TX, part of MERCEDES ISD. John F Kennedy EL serves approximately 414 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio. John F Kennedy EL has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.4 out of 10 and ranks #5,846 of 8,552 schools in TX.
Structured state assessment records for John F Kennedy EL show 51% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 45% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
- This school 5.4 · Average
- District avg 5.5
- TX avg 6.2
What Parents Should Know
Test scores at John F Kennedy EL sit below average, but its growth scores are strong: students here make above-average progress year over year. The raw numbers haven't caught up, but a school that keeps moving kids forward is doing the harder, more important work.
32% of students at John F Kennedy EL were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
John F Kennedy EL — Students at John F Kennedy EL score 24% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 35%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
94.4%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores TX STAAR (2023-24)
Based on 30 test records from TX state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
↓ DecliningAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* 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: 6.3/10.
How John F Kennedy EL Compares
See how John F Kennedy EL performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Programs & Offerings
Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more
Location
P O BOX 419, Mercedes, TX 78570
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering John F Kennedy EL may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. RUBEN HINOJOSA EL (rated 6.3/10, 1.2 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is TAYLOR EL (rated 5.8/10, 0.5 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, A N RICO EL (rated 5.0/10, 2.9 miles away, in nearby Weslaco), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Mercedes, see our Mercedes schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 3.6 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| IMMANUEL LUTHERAN SCHOOL Mercedes | 0.3 mi | — |
| TAYLOR EL Mercedes | 0.5 mi | 5.8 |
| MERCEDES EARLY COLLEGE ACADEMY Mercedes | 0.5 mi | 6.9 |
| MERCEDES EARLY LITERACY PROGRAM Mercedes | 0.5 mi | 3.0 |
| TRIUMPH PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS-MERCEDES Mercedes | 0.5 mi | 5.2 |
| TRAVIS EL Mercedes | 1.2 mi | 4.3 |
| MERCEDES H S Mercedes | 1.2 mi | 3.8 |
| RUBEN HINOJOSA EL Mercedes | 1.2 mi | 6.3 |
| SOUTH TEXAS ISD SCIENCE ACADEMY Mercedes | 1.3 mi | 9.3 |
| SOUTH TEXAS ISD HEALTH PROFESSIONS Mercedes | 1.4 mi | 8.7 |
| MERCEDES ACADEMIC ACADEMY Mercedes | 1.5 mi | 5.3 |
| SGT MANUEL CHACON MIDDLE Mercedes | 1.5 mi | 4.9 |
| SOUTH TEXAS ISD VIRTUAL ACADEMY Mercedes | 1.5 mi | — |
| SGT WILLIAM G HARRELL MIDDLE Mercedes | 1.8 mi | 4.6 |
| SOUTH PALM GARDENS H S Weslaco | 2.1 mi | 8.5 |
| A N RICO EL Weslaco | 2.9 mi | 5.0 |
| MARY HOGE MIDDLE Weslaco | 3.2 mi | 5.1 |
| WESLACO EAST H S Weslaco | 3.2 mi | 4.9 |
| PREMIER H S OF WESLACO Lewisville | 3.3 mi | 5.0 |
| IDEA COLLEGE PREP WESLACO Weslaco | 3.6 mi | 6.3 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 78570 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$39,890
Median Home Value
$83,400
Median Rent
$686/mo
Population
33,596
College Educated
11.7%
Homeownership
73.8%
Avg Commute
22 min
Poverty Rate
34.5%
Median Age
27.5
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| ALBERTO AND CELIA BARRERA EL Rio Grande City, TX | 5.4 |
| ALPINE EL Alpine, TX | 5.4 |
| AMOS EL Arlington, TX | 5.4 |
| AVVAI TAMIL CENTER Frisco, TX | 5.4 |
| BILL J ELLIOTT EL Fort Worth, TX | 5.4 |
| BONNIE BRAE Ft. Worth, TX | 5.4 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about John F Kennedy EL
What grades does John F Kennedy EL serve?
John F Kennedy EL serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend John F Kennedy EL?
John F Kennedy EL has an enrollment of approximately 414 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at John F Kennedy EL?
The student-teacher ratio at John F Kennedy EL is 13.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does John F Kennedy EL rank in TX?
John F Kennedy EL ranks #5,846 of 8,552 schools in TX.
What is John F Kennedy EL's MySchoolScout rating?
John F Kennedy EL has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.4 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 John F Kennedy EL?
Based on loaded state assessment records, John F Kennedy EL has 51% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 45% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is John F Kennedy EL a charter school?
No, John F Kennedy EL is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is John F Kennedy EL a Title I school?
No, John F Kennedy EL is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for John F Kennedy EL?
94.4% of students at John F Kennedy 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.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
Powered by 
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 414
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 13.8:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 30
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 94.4%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Hidalgo County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 31.9%
- Phone
- (956) 514-2300
Resources & Links
District
MERCEDES ISD- District Enrollment
- 4,393
- Schools in District
- 10
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $14,385
- District Rank
- #4 of 10
Other Schools in This District
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.
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