The top reported proficiency rate is 54% in Math. The lowest is 0% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Zavala El
Zavala Elementary is a small school serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in a working-class neighborhood of El Paso, with an enrollment made up almost entirely of Hispanic students from economically vulnerable families. Nearly all students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, and the school sits in the immediate El Paso area, a region defined by its proximity to the U.S.-Mexico border and the daily flows of trade and people that shape the city's economy and culture.
The school faces a critical immediate challenge. In November 2024, the El Paso Independent School District board voted to close eight elementary schools as part of a cost-reduction plan called the Destination District Redesign, driven by declining enrollment across the district and a projected budget shortfall. Zavala was among the first wave of schools scheduled to close at the end of the 2024-25 school year, meaning the school will not operate for 2025-26. Families currently enrolled will be reassigned to other EPISD campuses, and busing arrangements will change. This is not a matter of school quality but of district restructuring; it directly affects where a child will attend school going forward and is the defining context for any family considering or currently at Zavala.
On academic performance, the most recent state testing data shows results that warrant attention. In mathematics across grades three through five, proficiency rates range from about half to roughly three-fifths of students meeting or exceeding the standard. In English language arts, the picture is weaker: proficiency rates are in the low to mid-range, with fifth grade at the lowest point. A note about assessment language: some grades were tested in Spanish and others in English, reflecting the bilingual composition of the school's learners, though specific data on English learner enrollment or language classification was not available.
The school reported zero students meeting or exceeding the standard in fifth-grade science, which is a significant red flag and a parent may want to look into further with the district to understand what that means for science instruction and student readiness. Across all subjects, the school's overall proficiency index places it above the midpoint among El Paso County districts, a modest strength, but the data reflects a student population working below state standards in most areas.
The neighborhood itself is urban and predominantly working-class, situated in El Paso proper rather than in the suburban expansion zones farther east or west. El Paso's economy is anchored by Fort Bliss military base, health services, government employment, and the cross-border trade and logistics tied to its position on the international border. Public employment, including the school district itself, is among the largest job categories. The cost of living is below state and national housing benchmarks, and rental housing is accessible to families on modest incomes, though household earnings remain tight for many residents.
The district has announced program expansions including Montessori education, STEM and Fine Arts academies, and Extended Day Learning Centers at other campuses as part of its redesign, though these do not currently apply to Zavala. The district also lowered its property tax rate for 2024-25 but property value increases meant most homeowners still saw monthly tax increases.
For any family currently at Zavala, the immediate issue is the school's closure and the resulting campus reassignment. For anyone considering the area or the school before learning of the closure, the salient facts are the academic performance data—showing middling proficiency with particular concern in reading and science—and the economic and demographic context of a predominantly Hispanic, economically vulnerable student population in a working-class urban neighborhood. The closure itself eliminates this as an option for enrollment.
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