Average
#6482 of 8,547 schools in TX
Thigpen-zavala EL
Elementary School · MCALLEN ISD
2500 GALVESTON AVE, Mcallen, TX 78501
Enrollment
493
Student-Teacher
13.7:1
Score
5.1
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
493
Student-Teacher
13.7:1
Score
5.1
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Mcallen
#26 of 37
public schools
Texas elementary schools
#3,242 of 4,678
In district
#24 of 30
MCALLEN ISD
School environment
8.7 / 10
Exceptional
About Thigpen-zavala EL
THIGPEN-ZAVALA EL is a regular public elementary school in McAllen, Texas. Serving students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade, the school has an enrollment of 493 students and maintains a student-teacher ratio of 13.7:1 with 36 full-time equivalent teachers on staff. The academic performance at THIGPEN-ZAVALA EL shows room for growth, with MySchoolScout ranking it at 3.3 out of 10 and placing it in the 15th percentile among Texas schools.
In reading and math proficiency tests, 24% of students scored proficient or above in English Language Arts (ELA), while 38% did so in mathematics. THIGPEN-ZAVALA EL is situated in a mid-size city with a diverse community and educational focus on student development and growth.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
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Data not available for this school
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Thigpen-zavala EL — Students at Thigpen-zavala EL score 22% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 23%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
95.5%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores TX EDFACTS (2020-21)
Based on 4 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: 3.8/10.
How Thigpen-zavala EL Compares
See how Thigpen-zavala EL performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has declined from 48% (2019) to 27% (2021). Reading/ELA proficiency has declined from 32% (2019) to 17% (2021).
Location
2500 GALVESTON AVE, Mcallen, TX 78501
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Thigpen-zavala EL may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. WILSON EL (rated 6.8/10, 1.3 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is HORIZON MONTESSORI - STEM ACADEMY (rated 6.7/10, 1.1 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, FIELDS EL (rated 6.4/10, 1.4 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Mcallen, see our Mcallen schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 2.1 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| INSTR/GUID CENTER Mcallen | 0.1 mi | 7.5 |
| TAYLOR CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Mcallen | 0.5 mi | — |
| ALVAREZ EL Mcallen | 0.8 mi | 3.4 |
| ESCANDON EL Mcallen | 0.9 mi | 4.3 |
| TRIUMPH PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS-MCALLEN Mcallen | 0.8 mi | 4.9 |
| HORIZON MONTESSORI - STEM ACADEMY Mcallen | 1.1 mi | 6.7 |
| ACHIEVE EARLY COLLEGE H S Mcallen | 1.4 mi | 8.9 |
| WILSON EL Mcallen | 1.3 mi | 6.8 |
| TRAVIS MIDDLE Mcallen | 1.4 mi | 6.3 |
| BROWN MIDDLE Mcallen | 1.5 mi | 5.0 |
| FIELDS EL Mcallen | 1.4 mi | 6.4 |
| LAMAR ACADEMY Mcallen | 1.5 mi | 6.1 |
| IDEA MCALLEN COLLEGE PREPARATORY Mcallen | 1.5 mi | 6.1 |
| IDEA MCALLEN ACADEMY Mcallen | 1.5 mi | 3.9 |
| SEGUIN EL Mcallen | 1.8 mi | 4.5 |
| MCALLEN H S Mcallen | 1.9 mi | 8.8 |
| ROWE H S Mc Allen | 2.0 mi | 7.8 |
| ROMULO D MARTINEZ EL Mission | 2.0 mi | 4.6 |
| LLOYD & DOLLY BENTSEN EL Mission | 2.1 mi | 3.2 |
| MEMORIAL H S Mcallen | 2.1 mi | 8.9 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 78501 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$49,451
Median Home Value
$149,000
Median Rent
$943/mo
Population
59,095
College Educated
26.6%
Homeownership
50.2%
Avg Commute
18.8 min
Poverty Rate
25.3%
Median Age
36.8
Community Profile
The community surrounding Thigpen-zavala EL has a median household income of $49,451. It is an area where 27% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $149,000, with a median rent of $943/month. The area has a poverty rate of 25.3%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. Residents enjoy a short average commute of 19 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 |
|---|---|
| ALYSSA FERGUSON EL Missouri City, TX | 5.1 |
| BEST EL Houston, TX | 5.1 |
| BOB AND BETTY NELSON EL Alvin, TX | 5.1 |
| C J HARRIS EL Pearland, TX | 5.1 |
| CARLOS COON EL San Antonio, TX | 5.1 |
| CEDARS INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY Austin, TX | 5.1 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Thigpen-zavala EL
What grades does Thigpen-zavala EL serve?
Thigpen-zavala EL serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Thigpen-zavala EL?
Thigpen-zavala EL has an enrollment of approximately 493 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Thigpen-zavala EL?
The student-teacher ratio at Thigpen-zavala EL is 13.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Thigpen-zavala EL rank in TX?
Thigpen-zavala EL is ranked #6482 out of 8,547 schools in TX.
What is Thigpen-zavala EL's MySchoolScout rating?
Thigpen-zavala EL has a composite rating of 5.1 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 Thigpen-zavala EL?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Thigpen-zavala EL has 37.5% math proficiency and 24.5% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Thigpen-zavala EL a charter school?
No, Thigpen-zavala EL is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Thigpen-zavala EL a Title I school?
No, Thigpen-zavala EL is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Thigpen-zavala EL?
95.5% of students at Thigpen-zavala 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
- City Safety
- High (1,992/100K)
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Mcallen). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 493
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 13.7:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 36
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 95.5%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Hidalgo County
- Phone
- (956) 971-4377
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
MCALLEN ISD- District Enrollment
- 20,095
- Schools in District
- 31
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $13,409
- District Rank
- #24 of 30
Other Schools in This District
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 methodologyRelated reading
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