Very Good
#2906 of 8,552 schools in TX
Top 34% in state
Zavala EL
Elementary School · Harlingen CISD · Harlingen, TX
A Harlingen CISD elementary school where students score 9 points above what's typical for similar communities.
407 N 77 SUNSHINE STRIP, Harlingen, TX 78550
- Math 39% vs TX 44% (2024)
- Reading 52% vs TX 54% (2024)
- 14:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Zavala EL score 46% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 36%).
2024 STAAR proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. TX average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 16-year record (2009–2024), then recovered 14 points since 2020, reaching 46% in 2024.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 65% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 65% (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 scoreFree/reduced lunch
90.3%
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Zavala EL 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 55Somewhat Walkable
- Bike 48Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High2,994/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Harlingen), 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
$51,524
Median home value
$120,500
Median rent
$863/mo
College educated
21.7%
Homeownership
52.7%
Poverty rate
24.3%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 78550; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin ELEnrollment path unverified | 6.5 | PK–5 | 0.6 mi | 301 | Compare → |
| Calvary Christian SchoolPrivate · tuition | 6.4private | K–8 | 0.7 mi | 140 | Compare → |
| Crockett ELEnrollment path unverified | 6.9 | PK–5 | 0.9 mi | 272 | Compare → |
| Long ELEnrollment path unverified | 4.9 | PK–5 | 1.1 mi | 513 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Harlingen CISD
- Schools in district
- 31
- Rank in district
- #12 of 29
- District spending per student
- $13,586NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 28.2%Census SAIPE · 2024
Zavala EL is listed in HARLINGEN CISD; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Zavala EL
Zavala EL is a public elementary school in Harlingen, TX, part of Harlingen CISD, serving approximately 308 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 14:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.2 out of 10 and ranks #2,906 of 8,552 schools in TX. State assessment records show 65% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 65% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Zavala EL
What grades does Zavala EL serve?
Zavala EL serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Zavala EL?
Zavala EL has an enrollment of approximately 308 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Zavala EL?
The student-teacher ratio at Zavala EL is 14:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Zavala EL rank in TX?
Zavala EL ranks #2,906 of 8,552 schools in TX.
What is Zavala EL's MySchoolScout rating?
Zavala EL has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.2 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 Zavala EL?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Zavala EL has 65% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 65% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Zavala EL a charter school?
No, Zavala EL is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Zavala EL a Title I school?
No, Zavala EL is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Zavala EL?
90.3% of students at 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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 308
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 14:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 22
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Cameron County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 22.1%
- Phone
- (956) 427-3200
- Area population (ZIP 78550)
- 54,169
- Area average commute
- 18.4 min
- Area median age
- 33.6
Official sources & links
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 78550; 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
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