El Paso Leadership Academy, TX

Original Research by School Decision on El Paso Leadership Academy

El Paso Leadership Academy is a charter district in El Paso County serving grades six through eleven across a small number of students. The district operates multiple campuses, including a downtown location and EPLA East on the far east side, which opened in 2021 and extended the system from middle grades to include high school, allowing families to remain with the academy through graduation rather than transition elsewhere after eighth grade.

On state assessment results, the academy faces material academic challenges. Reading proficiency falls in the lowest range across grades six through eight, with rates near or below one in five students meeting grade-level standards. Math proficiency runs somewhat higher in middle grades but drops sharply by eighth grade. Science shows the strongest performance, though still modest. Social studies proficiency is particularly low. Across all tested subjects, the overall proficiency index places the academy in the bottom quartile among El Paso County's districts, well below the county median and substantially below the highest-performing districts in the region.

The academy's accountability rating is a direct concern for families. The high school campus received F ratings for three consecutive years, and the district as a whole received a D rating for the 2024-2025 school year. The leadership publicly notified families of this status and outlined a state-aligned turnaround plan. Sustained low accountability ratings carry real stakes; Texas law permits state takeover of districts in prolonged low-performance scenarios, and families considering the academy may want to understand what specific instructional changes are underway and what timeline the school expects for improvement.

Chronic absenteeism runs somewhat above the county median, a marker that can reflect both student mobility and engagement. Free-or-reduced-price lunch rates were not available in the data, nor were special education or English learner identification rates, so a parent seeking to understand the full student composition and support infrastructure would benefit from asking the school directly about these details.

The student body is overwhelmingly Hispanic, reflecting El Paso's broader demographics. Per-pupil spending falls in the middle to lower-middle range among county districts, so families should not expect above-average resource levels if that is a priority in their choice.

The district presents a case where a family's tolerance for low current test results, paired with attention to the school's turnaround efforts and track record of execution, becomes the central question. For a parent drawn to the school's name, structure, or other qualities, a parent may want to look into the details of the improvement plan with the school directly.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

795

Grades

06–11

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 98%

Black 0%

White 1%

Asian 0%

Two+ 1%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 6

16%

27%

Gr 7

20%

Gr 8

19%

21%

Math

Gr 6

14%

36%

Gr 7

27%

17%

Gr 8

16%

—

Science

Gr 8

31%

20%

Social studies

Gr 8

12%

all_subjects_approaches

Gr ALL

30%

—

all_subjects_masters

Gr ALL

—

all_subjects_meets

Gr ALL

11%

—

ela_approaches

Gr ALL

19%

—

ela_masters

Gr ALL

—

ela_meets

Gr ALL

12%

—

math_approaches

Gr ALL

33%

—

math_masters

Gr ALL

—

math_meets

Gr ALL

—

science_approaches

Gr ALL

57%

—

science_masters

Gr ALL

29%

—

science_meets

Gr ALL

29%

—

social_studies_approaches

Gr ALL

33%

—

social_studies_masters

Gr ALL

—

social_studies_meets

Gr ALL

—

Schools in this District

3 schools are officially reported under this district.

EL PASO LEADERSHIP ACADEMY

EL PASO LEADERSHIP ACADEMY - H S EAST

EL PASO LEADERSHIP ACADEMY - MIDDLE EAST

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

3 grades reported

21%

Grade 6

23%

Grade 7

15%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

3 grades reported

20%

Grade 6

15%

Grade 7

19%

Grade 8

Science

1 grade reported

29%

Grade 8

Social Studies

1 grade reported

12%

Grade 8

Data Currently Unavailable

Community & Housing Context
Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.