Cotulla Isd, TX - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on Cotulla Isd

Cotulla ISD is a PreK-12 district serving a small community in La Salle County in South Texas. The district enrolls about 1,100 students across four schools: Ramirez-Burks Elementary, Encinal Elementary, Frank Newman Middle School, and Cotulla High School. The student body is predominantly Hispanic, with a small representation of other groups. Family income and economic context data were not available in the records reviewed.

The district's state assessment results from the most recent school year show proficiency rates well below state benchmarks across tested subjects and grades. In mathematics, proficiency ranges from the low teens to the low forties by grade level, with middle grades showing particular weakness. English language arts performance is somewhat stronger, with a bright spot in eighth grade, where about half of students tested met proficiency standards. Science proficiency is also low, in the low twenties and mid-thirties across the tested grades. Social studies performance is particularly weak, with only a small share of eighth graders meeting the proficiency bar. Districtwide, only about four in ten students meet the "meets" level across all subjects combined. Parents considering this district should understand that these results reflect significant academic challenges that the school system is working to address.

The housing market in the Cotulla area shows median home values modestly below the Texas state average. The area has been experiencing a decline in residential property values year over year, though oil and gas mineral rights in the Eagle Ford Shale underpin the district's revenue base in ways that differ from many Texas districts.

The district is in the midst of substantial capital facilities transformation. Voters approved a major bond in May 2022 to rebuild Cotulla High School, replacing the original campus with a renovated and expanded two-story complex. Construction is slated for completion in late 2026, and in the interim, students have been housed in temporary locations. The district also opened a brand-new Ramirez-Burks Elementary School in late 2021 on previously undeveloped land west of downtown. In early 2025, trustees called for an additional bond to cover rising construction costs and funding gaps on the high school project, with administration noting that the majority of debt service would be paid by ad valorem taxes on oil and gas minerals rather than residential property taxes. A parent evaluating the district would want to weigh the ongoing construction disruption and the timing of when facilities come online.

A significant curriculum addition is underway: an Early College High School is set to launch in fall 2026 with support from the Texas Education Agency. This program will allow students to earn college credits toward an associate degree while still in high school, a meaningful pathway option for families interested in early postsecondary attainment.

Data on free-and-reduced-price-lunch eligibility, special education enrollment, English learner populations, graduation rate, chronic absenteeism, and per-pupil spending were not available or not reported. The district sits alone in La Salle County, so peer comparison among county districts was not possible.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

1,143

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 94%

Black 0%

White 4%

Asian 0%

Two+ 0%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

34%

—

Gr 4

29%

47%

Gr 6

34%

86%

Gr 7

41%

50%

Gr 8

54%

70%

Math

Gr 3

37%

—

Gr 4

40%

53%

Gr 5

23%

—

Gr 6

12%

71%

Gr 8

33%

30%

Science

Gr 8

32%

60%

Social studies

Gr 8

19%

30%

all_subjects_approaches

Gr ALL

46%

—

all_subjects_masters

Gr ALL

—

all_subjects_meets

Gr ALL

20%

—

ela_approaches

Gr ALL

38%

—

ela_masters

Gr ALL

—

ela_meets

Gr ALL

19%

—

math_approaches

Gr ALL

49%

—

math_masters

Gr ALL

—

math_meets

Gr ALL

21%

—

science_approaches

Gr ALL

65%

—

science_masters

Gr ALL

16%

—

science_meets

Gr ALL

29%

—

social_studies_approaches

Gr ALL

48%

—

social_studies_masters

Gr ALL

—

social_studies_meets

Gr ALL

15%

—

Schools in this District

4 schools are officially reported under this district.

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

4 grades reported

43%

Grade 4

27%

Grade 5

17%

Grade 6

33%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

5 grades reported

33%

Grade 4

42%

Grade 5

38%

Grade 6

42%

Grade 7

56%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

21%

Grade 5

35%

Grade 8

Social Studies

1 grade reported

20%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$118,198

Year-over-year change-15.3%

Range across 2 ZIP codes$118K to $147K

vs. state typical0.39x

vs. national typical0.32x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (2 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
78014	Cotulla	$118K	-15.6%	67.8%
78017	Dilley	$147K	-3.2%	1.2%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$596/mo

Home price / national median income1.4x

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.