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Teachers: what resource would make the biggest difference at DR MARIA PALMIRA MENDIOLA EL this year?
Community prompt from u/allk12. Replies below.
Enrollment
583
Elementary
DISTRICT 489 · STATE 519
SCHOOL COMMUNITY·LA JOYA ISD·NCES 482613011440
Dr Maria Palmira Mendiola Elementary School
6401 N ABRAM RD, MISSION, TX 78572 · (956) 323-2420 · Hidalgo County
GRADES PK–05ELEMENTARY41-RURALTITLE IREGULAR SCHOOL583 STUDENTS
C-
allk12 Grade
Scored higher than 24% of Texas public elementary schools
- C-Test scores Share of students meeting the state standard in reading, math, and other tested subjects, 2023-24 and 2024-25.
- B-Beats expectations How far test scores land above or below what the share of low-income students predicts for a school in this state.
- FThree-year trend Change in reading and math proficiency over the last three test years.
Grades compare a school only with schools in the same state, because every state gives its own test. How grades work · Top-graded Texas public elementary schools
Student : Teacher
17.2:1
34 FTE teachers
DISTRICT 15.1:1 · STATE 15.1:1
Free / Reduced Lunch
96%
557 students
DISTRICT 92% · STATE 65%
Community
1
0 members
Enrollment and student:teacher ratio compared against other elementary schools. Free/Reduced Lunch and demographics compared against all schools.
Enrollment by grade, 2024-25
| Grade | Students | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-K | 108 | 19% |
| Kindergarten | 76 | 13% |
| Grade 1 | 67 | 11% |
| Grade 2 | 82 | 14% |
| Grade 3 | 69 | 12% |
| Grade 4 | 96 | 16% |
| Grade 5 | 85 | 15% |
This year's kindergarten class (76) is 11% smaller than its 5th grade class (85).
Student demographics
0%Diversity index
The chance that two students picked at random belong to different racial or ethnic groups.
DISTRICT 0% · STATE 63% · US 70%
Student head counts by race/ethnicity from federal NCES enrollment data. District, state, and US figures are each group's share of all public school students in that area (US excludes territories). Very small groups may be suppressed in the source, so categories do not always sum exactly to total enrollment.
Gender split
Test scores
STAAR 2025-26 . % Meets Grade Level or AboveReading
27.0%
TX avg 54.5% . -4.0pp since 2020
Mathematics
28.0%
TX avg 45.3% . +14.0pp since 2020
What this means: On the STAAR, Texas's statewide test, about 27 of every 100 students at this school read at grade level and about 28 of 100 do math at grade level. Across all Texas schools, those numbers are about 55 and 45. Reading scores are down about 4 points since 2020, while math scores are up about 14 points.
Performance levels, 2025-26
| Subject | Masters Grade Level | Meets Grade Level | Approaches Grade Level | Did Not Meet Grade Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | 14.0% | 13.0% | 24.0% | 49.0% |
| Mathematics | 10.0% | 18.0% | 22.0% | 50.0% |
Share of tested students at each STAAR level. Each student counts in one level, so a row adds to about 100%.
STAAR results by year
| School year | Reading | Mathematics |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 27.0% | 28.0% |
| 2024-25 | 41.0% | 28.0% |
| 2023-24 | 46.0% | 34.0% |
| 2022-23 | 43.0% | 41.0% |
| 2021-22 | 36.0% | 41.0% |
| 2020-21 | 31.0% | 14.0% |
% Meets Grade Level or Above, all students and all tested grades.
Source: STAAR. All students, all grades. See all years and grades →
BeatsExpectations
Demographically-adjusted score · methodologyTier
AS EXPECTED
Performing as predicted given the school's student profile
Actual proficiency
32.7%
composite math + reading, all grades
Predicted
32.9%
based on TX schools with similar FRL share
Beats by
-0.2pp
below demographic expectation
What this means: About 33% of students here test proficient in math and reading, compared with the roughly 33% typical for Texas schools with a similar share of low-income students. BeatsExpectations measures results against demographically similar schools rather than by raw scores, and this school falls within the typical range, neither among Texas's top nor bottom 10%.
BeatsExpectations runs a per-state regression of proficiency on free/reduced-lunch share, then scores each school by residual. How this is calculated →
Schools most like Dr Maria Palmira Mendiola Elementary School
Dr Maria Palmira Mendiola Elementary School's state test result (32.7% proficient) is higher than 1 of the 5 schools below with a result.
| School | Students | Low-income | Proficient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dr Maria Palmira Mendiola Elementary School this school | 583 | 95.5% | 32.7% |
| H B Zachry Elementary School LAREDO | 562 | 95.4% | 46.9% |
| Ligarde Elementary School LAREDO | 571 | 96.7% | 39.4% |
| Roque Guerra Jr Elementary School RIO GRANDE CITY | 604 | 96.4% | 31.4% |
| Raul Longoria Elementary School PHARR | 568 | 94.5% | 39.7% |
| Bryss Academy BROWNSVILLE | 555 | 95.0% | 68.0% |
Matched among Texas elementary schools on enrollment, the share of students from low-income families (eligible for free or reduced-price lunch), and racial and ethnic makeup. Proficient is the average share of students meeting the state standard across all of the school's state tests in 2023-24 and 2024-25, the same combined score our test-score rankings use. Online schools and schools serving specialized populations are not matched.
Where Dr Maria Palmira Mendiola Elementary School ranks
Among elementary schools| Measure | This school | In Texas | In Hidalgo County |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 32.7% | #3,410 of 4,401 | #162 of 181 |
| Math proficiency ranked highest first | 28.0% | #4,064 of 4,466 ▼ 152 | #176 of 183 ▼ 3 |
| Reading proficiency ranked highest first | 27.0% | #4,358 of 4,466 ▼ 916 | #182 of 183 ▼ 23 |
| 3-year test score change ranked biggest drop first | -14.5pp | #175 of 3,998 | #3 of 180 |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 583 | #1,744 of 4,938 | #62 of 192 |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 17.2:1 | #3,969 of 4,622 | #142 of 185 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 0.0% | #4,613 of 4,628 | #181 of 185 |
| Free and reduced lunch ranked highest share first | 95.5% | #433 of 4,789 | #37 of 190 |
| Enrollment change since 2017-18 ranked steepest decline first | -26.6% | #678 of 2,838 | #33 of 128 |
Ranked against other public elementary schools. Online schools are left out of every list, and test-score lists leave out schools that serve specialized populations. Each rank links to the full list. Arrows under a test-score rank show places moved since the prior test year, among schools tested both years.
4-year change
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25Enrollment
583
-14 (-2%) vs 2020
-23% since 2010-11, when it was 759
Student : Teacher
17.2:1
was 15.3:1
Source: NCES Common Core of Data
Enrollment and staffing by year
| School year | Students | Teachers (FTE) | Students per teacher | Free and reduced lunch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 583 | 33.8 | 17.2:1 | 96% (557) |
| 2023-24 | 601 | 35.6 | 16.9:1 | 98% (588) |
| 2022-23 | 594 | 33.6 | 17.7:1 | 98% (582) |
| 2020-21 | 597 | 39 | 15.3:1 | 98% (585) |
| 2017-18 | 794 | 47.3 | 16.8:1 | 97% (771) |
| 2015-16 | 664 | 44 | 15.1:1 | 97% (645) |
| 2010-11 | 759 | 44 | 17.3:1 | 1% (4) |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data. Rows are the federal collections on file for Dr Maria Palmira Mendiola Elementary School.
Since 2017-18: students down 27% (794 to 583); teachers down 28% (47.3 to 33.8).
About Dr Maria Palmira Mendiola Elementary School
Dr Maria Palmira Mendiola Elementary School is a medium-sized elementary school in LA JOYA ISD, located in MISSION, Texas. It educates 583 students in pre-K through 5.
Dr Maria Palmira Mendiola Elementary School is part of LA JOYA ISD, where 36 schools serve 22,942 students.
At Dr Maria Palmira Mendiola Elementary School, Hispanic students make up 100% of the student body. The Hispanic share of the county population is lower, at 92%. The chance that two students picked at random at Dr Maria Palmira Mendiola Elementary School belong to different racial or ethnic groups, known as the diversity index, is 0%.
Its 33.8 full-time-equivalent teachers give the school a ratio of 17.2:1. For comparison, elementary schools in Texas average 15.1:1. Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility was 96% in 2024-25. By comparison, the figure for public schools in Hidalgo County is 85%.
Measured against Texas public elementary schools, Dr Maria Palmira Mendiola Elementary School receives a C-. The grade weighs proficiency most heavily, then how results compare with what the school's low-income share predicts, then the three-year change.
After adjusting for student poverty, Dr Maria Palmira Mendiola Elementary School lands between the top and bottom 10% of Texas schools. Its average proficiency rate on state tests is 32.7%; the prediction is 32.9%.
Within Hidalgo County, median household income is about $54,338, a bachelor's degree or higher is held by about 21% of adults, and the poverty rate is about 23%. Federal data list 364 public schools in Hidalgo County, with a combined enrollment of about 212,859.
Of nearby public schools, Elodia R Chapa Elementary School is the closest, at about 1.2 miles. The count of other public schools within five miles is at least 8. Of 9 schools in the immediate area with test results, Dr Maria Palmira Mendiola Elementary School ranks 8th on average proficiency.
The school's setting, by NCES definition, is Rural: Fringe: in rural territory close to an urban area.
There was little change in enrollment from 2020-21 (597) to 2024-25 (583). From 2020-21 to 2024-25, the ratio rose from 15.3:1 to 17.2:1.
Threads on this page can be about enrollment questions, class placement, and PTA news. Alumni can share how the school prepared them.
Hidalgo County at a glance
View full county profilePopulation
891,977
Census ACS
Median income
$54,338
Household, ACS
Bachelor's+
21%
Adults 25+
Poverty rate
23%
Below federal line
Schools in county
364
212,859 students
Quick facts
Related schools
Other schools in LA JOYA ISD
- La Joya High SchoolHigh · 2,405 students
- La Joya Palmview High SchoolHigh · 2,073 students
- Juarez-Lincoln High SchoolHigh · 1,952 students
- Enrique Kiki Camarena Elementary SchoolElementary · 715 students
- John F Kennedy Elementary SchoolElementary · 676 students
- Ann Richards Middle SchoolMiddle · 665 students
Other schools in MISSION
- Mission High SchoolHigh · 2,154 students
- La Joya Palmview High SchoolHigh · 2,073 students
- Juarez-Lincoln High SchoolHigh · 1,952 students
- Veterans Memorial High SchoolHigh · 1,737 students
- Sharyland High SchoolHigh · 1,527 students
- Sharyland Pioneer High SchoolHigh · 1,511 students
Nearby schools
- Elodia R Chapa Elementary School1.2 mi · 445
- Juan De Dios Salinas Middle School1.8 mi · 648
- Juarez-Lincoln High School2.0 mi · 1,952
- Dr Americo Paredes Elementary School2.0 mi · 465
- Juan Seguin Elementary School2.1 mi · 569
- Narciso Cavazos2.2 mi · 471
Frequently asked questions
About Dr Maria Palmira Mendiola Elementary SchoolHow large is Dr Maria Palmira Mendiola Elementary School?
Dr Maria Palmira Mendiola Elementary School enrolls approximately 583 students in grades PK-05.
What grades does Dr Maria Palmira Mendiola Elementary School serve?
Dr Maria Palmira Mendiola Elementary School serves grades PK-05.
How many teachers does Dr Maria Palmira Mendiola Elementary School have?
Dr Maria Palmira Mendiola Elementary School employs 34 FTE teachers, for a student-to-teacher ratio of 17.2:1.
What is the student diversity at Dr Maria Palmira Mendiola Elementary School?
Student demographics at Dr Maria Palmira Mendiola Elementary School are roughly 100% Hispanic.
What district is Dr Maria Palmira Mendiola Elementary School in?
Dr Maria Palmira Mendiola Elementary School is part of LA JOYA ISD.
Data sourceSchool profile facts are sourced from the NCES. Community content is posted by allk12 members.