Skip to main content

Below Average

#6918 of 8,552 schools in TX

Sgt William G Harrell Middle

Middle School · Mercedes ISD · Mercedes, TX

A Mercedes ISD middle school where students score 9 points below what's typical for similar communities.

P O BOX 419, Mercedes, TX 78570

  • Math 18% vs TX 44% (2024)
  • Reading 30% vs TX 54% (2024)
  • 9.9:1 student-teacher ratio

Academics

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress4.2Below Average40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-4.28 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendDeclining
Academics3.2Needs Improvement35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency18% (2024 STAAR)
Reading/ELA Proficiency30% (2024 STAAR)
Math vs. State Avg-25.6 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-24.3 pts
Overall Proficiency24% (2024 STAAR, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)33% (model expectation from 2024 STAAR)
vs. Expected-8.9 pts
Adjusted Percentile13th
Resources & Environment7.3Very Good25%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio9.9:1
District spending per student$14,385
Chronic Absenteeism40.7%

Students at Sgt William G Harrell Middle score 24% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 33%).

How we calculate scores →

2024 STAAR proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. TX average.

Math Proficiency18%(2024 STAAR)
School
State
44%(2024 STAAR)
ELA Proficiency30%(2024 STAAR)
School
State
54%(2024 STAAR)

Trend

↑ Recovering

Proficiency declined earlier in the 16-year record (2009–2024), then recovered 12 points since 2020, reaching 24% in 2024.

Show all 15 years
2009
Math
62%
ELA
66%
2010
Math
75%
ELA
79%
2011
Math
80%
ELA
78%
2012
Math
66%
ELA
48%
2013
Math
73%
ELA
63%
2014
Math
67%
ELA
56%
2015
Math
57%
ELA
52%
2016
Math
69%
ELA
58%
2017
Math
35%
ELA
28%
2018
Math
36%
ELA
27%
2019
Math
36%
ELA
27%
2020*
Math
6%
ELA
18%
2021*
Math
6%
ELA
18%
2022
Math
16%
ELA
31%
2024
Math
18%
ELA
30%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 47% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 45% (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

98.5%

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 Sgt William G Harrell Middle 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 6Car-Dependent
  • Bike 26Somewhat Bikeable
  • City Safety: High3,652/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Mercedes), 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

$39,890

Median home value

$83,400

Median rent

$686/mo

College educated

11.7%

Homeownership

73.8%

Poverty rate

34.5%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 78570; 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
South Texas ISD Virtual AcademyEnrollment path unverifiedNot rated6–112.5 mi181Compare →
Sgt Manuel Chacon MiddleEnrollment path unverified4.96–82.6 mi587Compare →
Mary Hoge MiddleEnrollment path unverified5.16–82.8 mi925Compare →
Hidalgo County Boot CampEnrollment path unverifiedNot rated8–114.6 mi11Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

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

Mercedes ISD

Schools in district
10
Rank in district
#7 of 10
District spending per student
$14,385NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
35.2%Census SAIPE · 2024

Sgt William G Harrell Middle is listed in MERCEDES ISD; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Sgt William G Harrell Middle

Sgt William G Harrell Middle is a public middle school in Mercedes, TX, part of Mercedes ISD, serving approximately 388 students in grades 6th-8th with a 9.9:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.6 out of 10 and ranks #6,918 of 8,552 schools in TX. State assessment records show 47% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 45% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Sgt William G Harrell Middle

What grades does Sgt William G Harrell Middle serve?

Sgt William G Harrell Middle serves students in grades 6th through 8th.

How many students attend Sgt William G Harrell Middle?

Sgt William G Harrell Middle has an enrollment of approximately 388 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Sgt William G Harrell Middle?

The student-teacher ratio at Sgt William G Harrell Middle is 9.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Sgt William G Harrell Middle rank in TX?

Sgt William G Harrell Middle ranks #6,918 of 8,552 schools in TX.

What is Sgt William G Harrell Middle's MySchoolScout rating?

Sgt William G Harrell Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.6 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 Sgt William G Harrell Middle?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Sgt William G Harrell Middle has 47% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 45% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Is Sgt William G Harrell Middle a charter school?

No, Sgt William G Harrell Middle is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Sgt William G Harrell Middle a Title I school?

No, Sgt William G Harrell Middle is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Sgt William G Harrell Middle?

98.5% of students at Sgt William G Harrell Middle 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
6th – 8th
Enrollment
388
Student-Teacher Ratio
9.9:1
Teachers (FTE)
39
Type
regular
Setting
Fringe Rural
County
Hidalgo County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
40.7%
Area population (ZIP 78570)
33,596
Area average commute
22 min
Area median age
27.5
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 78570; 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.