Hidalgo County

Texas · Public K-12

Hidalgo County's public schools, 364 in all, serve approximately 212,859 K-12 students inside Texas, with Edinburg Cisd the largest district by enrollment. The level mix is 205 elementary, 54 middle, and 87 high schools.

4-year change in Hidalgo County

SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25

Total enrollment

212,639

-5,295 (-2%) vs SY 2020-21

School count

333

+6 (+2%) vs SY 2020-21

Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages

How Hidalgo County ranks

Among counties

Measure	This county	In Texas	In the US
State test proficiency ranked highest first	46.9%	#91 of 192	N/A
Enrollment ranked largest first	212,859	#6 of 196	#26 of 2,745
Number of schools ranked most first	335	#5 of 196	N/A
Students per teacher ranked fewest first	15.1:1	#160 of 196	#1,800 of 2,655
Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first	84.9%	#8 of 196	#417 of 2,526
Diversity index ranked most diverse first	5.1%	#187 of 192	#2,616 of 2,707

Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.

Hidalgo County school rankings

Largest schools All rankings →

Residents

891,977

all ages · ACS 5-yr

Schools

364

26 districts

Enrollment

212,859

students · NCES CCD

Median income

$54,338

Below Texas avg

Free/reduced lunch

84.9%

Above Texas avg

Elementary

205

98,806 students

Middle

37,280 students

High

70,729 students

Combined / other

6,044 students

LARGEST DISTRICT

EDINBURG CISD

33,343 students · 26 districts in Hidalgo County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Hidalgo County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".

County residents

White

28%

Hispanic

92%

Black

Asian

Two or more

59%

Native American

Pacific Islander

School enrollment

White

Hispanic

97%

Black

Asian

Two or more

n/r

Native American

Pacific Islander

Bachelor's+

20.6%

adults 25+

Poverty rate

23.3%

ACS 5-year

Unemployment

7.6%

civilian labor

Median age

31.0% under 18

Test scores in Hidalgo County

Latest 2025-26 ELA proficiency, 290 schools ranked. Texas state average: 55.6%.

Top 5 schools (ELA)

EDINBURG COLLEGIATE H S· 95.0%
ACHIEVE EARLY COLLEGE H S· 90.0%
PSJA COLLEGIATE SCHOOL OF HEALTH PROFESSIONS· 90.0%
SOUTH TEXAS ISD PREPARATORY ACADEMY· 90.0%
JIMMY CARTER EARLY COLLEGE H S· 87.0%

Lowest 5 schools (ELA)

THELMA ROSA SALINAS STEM EARLY COLLEGE H S· 8.0%
DANIEL SINGLETERRY SR· 26.0%
DR MARIA PALMIRA MENDIOLA EL· 27.0%
LA JOYA H S· 29.0%
DONNA NORTH H S· 30.0%

See all 290 schools in Hidalgo County ranked by score →

All schools (364)

Largest A-Z Top rated

Name	City	Level	Grades	Enrollment	Rating
EXCELLENCE IN LEADERSHIP ACADEMY	Mission	Elementary	PK-08	183	·
MISSION EARLY LEARNING	Mission	Elementary	PK-PK	183	·
LA VILLA EARLY COLLEGE H S	La Villa	High	09-12	179	·
JOSE BORREGO MIDDLE	Monte Alto	Middle	06-08	178	·
PREMIER H S OF MISSION	Mission	High	09-12	178	·
PSJA SOTOMAYOR BUILDING BLOCKS ACADEMY	Pharr	Elementary	PK-01	167	·
LONE STAR H S SOUTH (TJJD)	Edinburg	High	09-12	159	·
PREMIER HIGH SCHOOLS - EDINBURG CAREER & TECHNICAL	Edinburg	High	09-12	153	·
ELVIS J BALLEW H S	Pharr	High	09-12	136	·
TRIUMPH PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS-MCALLEN	Mcallen	High	09-12	118	·
BUELL CENTRAL DAEP	Pharr	High	06-12	117	·
PREMIER H S OF WESLACO	Weslaco	High	09-12	112	·
TRIUMPH PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS-MERCEDES	Mercedes	High	09-12	109	·
PREMIER H S OF PALMVIEW	Palmview	High	09-12	108	·
PREMIER H S OF SAN JUAN	San Juan	High	09-12	108	·
LA VILLA MIDDLE	La Villa	Middle	06-08	106	·
MERCEDES ACADEMIC ACADEMY	Mercedes	High	09-12	100	·
PSJA ALAMO BUILDING BLOCKS ACADEMY	Alamo	Elementary	PK-KG	94	·
QUEST COLLEGIATE ACADEMY-MCALLEN	Mcallen	Elementary	PK-08	84	·
HOPE ACADEMY	La Joya	High	06-12	78	·
SOUTH PALM GARDENS H S	Mercedes	High	09-12	72	·
EDCOUCH-ELSA H S ACADEMY	Elsa	High	09-12	70	·
INSTR/GUID CENTER	Mcallen	High	06-11	60	·
CAREER AND COLLEGE DEVELOPMENT CENTER	Weslaco	High	09-12	50	·
LAMAR ACADEMY	Mcallen	High	10-12	47	·
TEXASWORKS - EDINBURG-CTE	Edinburg	High	09-12	47	·
JUVENILE DETENTION CTR	Edinburg	High	06-11	38	·
TEXASWORKS - WESLACO	Weslaco	High	09-12	29	·
TEXASWORKS - MISSION	Mission	High	09-12	15	·
HIDALGO CO J J A E P	Mcallen	High	07-12	14	·
HIDALGO COUNTY BOOT CAMP	Weslaco	High	09-10	11	·
TEXASWORKS - SAN JUAN	San Juan	High	09-12	9	·
HIDALGO CO J J A E P	Mcallen	High	07-12	7	·
JJAEP-SOUTHWEST KEY PROGRAM	Edinburg	High	08-09	1	·
SOUTHWEST KEY PROGRAM	Mcallen	High	09-09	1	·
DONNA ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM	Donna	Combined	01-12	0	·
EDINBURG ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION ACADEMY	Edinburg	Combined	03-12	0	·
HORTON DISCIPLINARY ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM	Weslaco	Combined	04-12	0	·
LA JOYA ISD HEAD START PROGRAM	La Joya	Elementary	PK-KG	0	·
MERCEDES DAEP	Mercedes	Combined	02-12	0	·
PSJA SONIA M SOTOMAYOR H S	Pharr	High	06-12	0	·
ROOSEVELT ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL	Mission	Combined	KG-12	0	·
VISION ACADEMY OF EXCELLENCE	Edinburg	High	11-12	0	·
21ST CENTURY EARLY LEARNING FOUNDATIONS ACADEMY	Weslaco	Combined	M-M	·	·
DAEP	Progreso	Elementary	M-M	·	·
HIDALGO CO J J A E P	Progreso	Elementary	M-M	·	·
HIDALGO CO J J A E P	Edinburg	Elementary	M-M	·	·
HIDALGO CO J J A E P	Mcallen	Elementary	M-M	·	·
HIDALGO CO J J A E P	Mission	Elementary	M-M	·	·
HIDALGO CO J J A E P	Mercedes	Elementary	M-M	·	·
HIDALGO COUNTY J J A E P	Mcallen	Elementary	M-M	·	·
HIDALGO EARLY START ACADEMY	Hidalgo	Combined	M-M	·	·
HIDALGO J J A E P	Hidalgo	Elementary	M-M	·	·
HORIZON H S MCALLEN	Mcallen	Combined	M-M	·	·
HORIZON H S WESLACO	Weslaco	Combined	M-M	·	·
J J A E P	Mcallen	Elementary	M-M	·	·
J J A E P	Mcallen	Elementary	M-M	·	·
NEW EL #132	Pharr	Combined	M-M	·	·
NEW EL #133	San Juan	Combined	M-M	·	·
RUNN VIRTUAL LEARNING ACADEMY	Donna	Combined	M-M	·	·
STUDENT ALTER PROG	Mcallen	Elementary	M-M	·	·
VALLEY VIEW EARLY COLLEGE CAMPUS	Hidalgo	Combined	M-M	·	·
VALLEY VIEW J J A E P	Pharr	Elementary	M-M	·	·
WESLACO 21ST CENTURY CTE EARLY COLLEGE H S	Weslaco	Combined	M-M	·	·

Cities in Hidalgo County

Mission58 schools Edinburg57 schools Mcallen52 schools Pharr38 schools Weslaco29 schools Donna22 schools Mercedes17 schools San Juan17 schools Alamo13 schools Hidalgo10 schools La Joya9 schools Alton8 schools Elsa7 schools Progreso6 schools Edcouch4 schools Penitas4 schools La Villa3 schools Monte Alto3 schools Palmhurst2 schools Sullivan City2 schools Hargill1 school Mc Allen1 school Palmview1 school

About Hidalgo County

Across the population-heavy Texas county of Hidalgo County of about 891,977 residents, the public-school footprint covers 364 schools and about 212,859 students.

Looking at the wider area, census numbers show the median household earns about $54,338 a year, roughly 21% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the federal-poverty share is near 23%. That income level is 18% below the Texas median.

Looking at the level breakdown, Hidalgo County is made up of 205 elementary schools (98,806 students), 54 middle schools (37,280), 87 high schools (70,729), and 18 combined or other schools.

EDINBURG CISD dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 33,343 students on its own.

Looking at the last 4 years. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment stayed largely flat: 217,934 students in SY 2020-21 versus 212,639 in SY 2024-25. Hidalgo County now counts 333 public schools, up from 327 in SY 2020-21.

Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Hidalgo County discusses enrollment trends, district policy changes, and bus-route updates. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.

Frequently asked questions

How many K-12 schools serve Hidalgo County?

There are 364 public K-12 schools in Hidalgo County, Texas, with a combined enrollment of about 212,859.

How many high schools are in Hidalgo County?

Hidalgo County, Texas has 87 public high schools, serving approximately 70,729 students.

How many middle schools are in Hidalgo County?

Hidalgo County, Texas has 54 public middle schools, serving approximately 37,280 students.

How many elementary schools are in Hidalgo County?

Hidalgo County, Texas has 205 public elementary schools, serving approximately 98,806 students.

What is the largest school district in Hidalgo County?

EDINBURG CISD is the largest school district in Hidalgo County, serving approximately 33,343 students. The county contains 26 school districts overall.

How many people live in Hidalgo County?

Hidalgo County has roughly 891,977 residents according to the latest Census ACS 5-year estimate.

What is the median household income in Hidalgo County?

Median household income in Hidalgo County is $54,338, below the Texas average of $66,482. About 23.3% of residents live below the federal poverty line.

How educated are residents of Hidalgo County?

Approximately 20.6% of adults 25 and older in Hidalgo County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.

What share of students in Hidalgo County qualify for free or reduced lunch?

Roughly 84.9% of students in Hidalgo County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is higher than the Texas county average of 61.1%.

What is the student-teacher ratio in Hidalgo County schools?

Across Hidalgo County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 15.6 to 1.

DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data