Brownsville Isd, TX - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on Brownsville Isd

Brownsville ISD is a large urban district in South Texas, spanning from pre-kindergarten through grade twelve across a network of roughly fifty schools. The student body is overwhelmingly Hispanic, with very small populations of other races and ethnicities. The district serves a community with substantial economic pressure: housing values in the district's area are markedly below the state average, and rents have risen sharply in recent years, straining family budgets. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, though the district's own FRPL count was not available.

Academic performance is mixed and uneven by grade and subject. In early literacy, the district shows strength: third and fourth graders reach proficiency in reading at solid rates, and the fifth grade performs well in both reading and math. But the picture darkens in the middle years. Sixth graders' reading proficiency declines noticeably, and seventh-grade math proficiency drops to a very low level, a bottleneck that suggests difficulty in the transition to secondary mathematics. Eighth grade recovers in both subjects, ending middle school on steadier ground. Science proficiency is weak overall, with only a tiny fraction of fifth graders and roughly one-third of eighth graders meeting standards. Social studies also lags. Across all tested grades and subjects, the district sits in the top quartile for overall proficiency among the eight school districts in Cameron County, but that still reflects modest absolute achievement; fewer than one in five students show mastery-level performance in math, and fewer than one in four in science or social studies.

The district operates a network of early-college high schools, a pathway that offers dual-credit opportunities alongside regular high school. This is a real strength for families seeking a head start on college coursework and credentials, though graduation rate data was not available, so a parent may want to ask the district for specific completion and college-going outcomes from these programs.

The district has faced sustained fiscal strain. A bond package that voters rejected in a recent election would have systematically addressed long-deferred facility repairs—leaking roofs, aging air-conditioning, windows decades old—at the majority of schools. Without it, maintenance will continue on an emergency-only basis, meaning buildings will remain in varying states of repair. The district has also consolidated three pairs of elementary schools in response to enrollment decline and structural budget deficits, closing three campuses and reassigning families to other schools. This kind of contraction reflects the broader demographic reality of the Rio Grande Valley: a falling birth rate and migration patterns have shrunk the district's enrollment, and flat state funding per student compounds the fiscal challenge. The district has recently improved the student-to-teacher ratio in middle school and fifth grade, a direct benefit to class size, but federal funding cuts in 2025 forced a reduction in after-school academy programs from daily operation to three days per week, eliminating an important form of care for working families.

The district is very much in a period of retrenchment and reorganization, driven by forces beyond its control. It remains a major community employer and a provider of dual-credit pathways to families who pursue them. For families entering the district now, expect solid reading instruction in the early grades, particular care needed in seventh-grade math transition, and middle-school classrooms of manageable size. Facilities will vary in condition. After-school care is available but on a reduced schedule. A parent should ask directly about program stability and staffing, given the ongoing budget constraints that shape what the district can sustain.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

37,065

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 98%

Black 0%

White 1%

Asian 0%

Two+ 0%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

47%

73%

Gr 4

31%

73%

Gr 5

58%

—

Gr 6

48%

78%

Gr 7

52%

76%

Gr 8

45%

63%

Math

Gr 3

22%

61%

Gr 4

23%

77%

Gr 5

58%

84%

Gr 6

30%

60%

Gr 7

12%

24%

Gr 8

50%

67%

Science

Gr 5

58%

Gr 8

32%

51%

Social studies

Gr 8

24%

41%

all_subjects_approaches

Gr ALL

51%

—

all_subjects_masters

Gr ALL

—

all_subjects_meets

Gr ALL

25%

—

ela_approaches

Gr ALL

46%

—

ela_masters

Gr ALL

—

ela_meets

Gr ALL

24%

—

math_approaches

Gr ALL

52%

—

math_masters

Gr ALL

10%

—

math_meets

Gr ALL

27%

—

science_approaches

Gr ALL

57%

—

science_masters

Gr ALL

14%

—

science_meets

Gr ALL

29%

—

social_studies_approaches

Gr ALL

57%

—

social_studies_masters

Gr ALL

—

social_studies_meets

Gr ALL

24%

—

Schools in this District

57 schools are officially reported under this district.

VELA MIDDLE

YTURRIA EL

HANNA EARLY COLLEGE H S

PORTER EARLY COLLEGE H S

PACE EARLY COLLEGE H S

LOPEZ EARLY COLLEGE H S

RIVERA EARLY COLLEGE H S

BROWNSVILLE ACADEMIC CENTER

CAMERON CO JUVENILE DETENTION CTR

BROWNSVILLE LEARNING ACADEMY

BRITE EL

VETERANS MEMORIAL EARLY COLLEGE H S

BROWNSVILLE EARLY COLLEGE H S

BREEDEN EL

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

6 grades reported

21%

Grade 3

24%

Grade 4

61%

Grade 5

34%

Grade 6

13%

Grade 7

52%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

50%

Grade 3

56%

Grade 4

62%

Grade 5

51%

Grade 6

55%

Grade 7

47%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

Grade 5

34%

Grade 8

Social Studies

1 grade reported

26%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$190,999

Year-over-year change+2.8%

Range across 5 ZIP codes$164K to $292K

vs. state typical0.63x

vs. national typical0.52x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (5 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
78521	Brownsville	$175K	+3.1%	43.4%
78520	Brownsville	$190K	+2.1%	36.3%
78526	Brownsville	$234K	+2.6%	12.6%
78586	San Benito	$164K	+4.2%	4.7%
78575	Rancho Viejo	$292K	+4.8%	3.0%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,537/mo

Year-over-year change+9.2%

Range across 4 ZIP codes$1,200 to $1,983/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (4 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
78521	Brownsville	$1,388	+5.7%	43.4%
78520	Brownsville	$1,603	+14.9%	36.3%
78526	Brownsville	$1,983	+4.5%	12.6%
78586	San Benito	$1,200	—	4.7%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$964/mo

Home price / national median income2.3x

Annual rent / national median income22.0%

Rent exceeds est. mortgage by$573/mo

Comparison

State typical home value$302,187 (-2.0% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

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.