Desert Hills El, El Paso TX - Test Scores & Data

Original Research by School Decision on Desert Hills El

Desert Hills Elementary is a publicly operated school serving pre-K through fifth grade in the Far East El Paso area within Clint Independent School District. The enrollment is small to moderate for its grade band, with a student body that is predominantly Hispanic and economically disadvantaged; a substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The school is housed in a region experiencing steady suburban expansion, where newer family-oriented residential developments have become common over the past decade.

Academic performance at Desert Hills reflects a mixed but improving picture as students progress through the early elementary grades. In English language arts, school-wide proficiency sits above the midpoint relative to other districts in El Paso County. Third-grade reading proficiency is solid, and fifth-grade performance is notably stronger. Math proficiency is lower, particularly in third and fourth grades, though fifth-grade students show measurable progress. Science proficiency at the fifth-grade level is quite weak, and a parent may want to look into how the school approaches science instruction and whether additional support is available for that subject area. The state testing data provided covers third through fifth grades only, as earlier grades are not assessed under Texas's STAAR testing model.

The school operates within a school district that has recently prioritized early childhood education access. Beginning in the 2025-2026 school year, Clint ISD now offers free, full-day pre-kindergarten to all four-year-old students regardless of family income or eligibility status, a change that opens pathways for families with younger children entering the district pipeline. This shift reflects an intentional investment in foundational skills during the pre-K phase.

El Paso's housing market in this area reflects moderate affordability, with entry-level home values typical for the region and rental costs within a reasonable share of household income. The broader economic context of Far East El Paso is shaped by the city's role as a cross-border gateway; major employment anchors include Fort Bliss, the City of El Paso, health services, the public school districts themselves, and private employers such as Charles Schwab and ADP. The area is suburban in character, with newer single-family homes on spacious lots, a car-oriented layout, and steady residential growth on the periphery.

As a small elementary school in a growing outer suburban area, Desert Hills serves families who value accessible neighborhood schools in quieter residential settings. The school's strengths lie in early language arts development and a student population that reflects the broader cultural and demographic character of El Paso. The lower math and science proficiency rates indicate areas where families may wish to assess whether additional academic support or enrichment aligns with their child's needs.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 321%

School 21% · District 23% · ▼ 2 pts below district

▼ 19 pts below state median · ▼ 18 pts below county median

Grade 436%

School 36% · District 26% · ▲ 10 pts above district

▼ 5 pts below state median · ▼ 9 pts below county median

Grade 545%

School 45% · District 43% · ▲ 2 pts above district

▲ 4 pts above state median · ▼ 1 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 351%

School 51% · District 22% · ▲ 29 pts above district

▲ 5 pts above state median · ▲ 6 pts above county median

Grade 436%

School 36% · District 28% · ▲ 8 pts above district

▼ 13 pts below state median · ▼ 14 pts below county median

Grade 556%

School 56% · District 55% · ▲ 1 pts above district

▲ 2 pts above state median · ▼ 2 pts below county median

Science

Grade 59%

School 9% · District 16% · ▼ 7 pts below district

▼ 14 pts below state median · ▼ 16 pts below county median

This schoolCLINT ISD, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 4Lower-income48%Higher-income58%10 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income45%Higher-income70%25 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 4Lower-income29%Higher-income29%0 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income32%Higher-income47%15 pp gap