The top reported proficiency rate is 46% in English language arts. The lowest is 25% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Moreno El
Moreno Elementary is a pre-K through fifth-grade school in El Paso serving a student population of around four hundred. Nearly all students are Hispanic, and a substantial share qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The school sits within El Paso ISD, which is undergoing significant consolidation; Moreno itself is not on the closure list, but eight elementary schools districtwide are being shuttered through 2027, reshaping which campuses families can access and affecting busing patterns across the district.
On state testing, Moreno's results are mixed by grade and subject. In third-grade English language arts, proficiency sits around the middle of the range. Fifth-grade reading is the school's strongest area. Fourth-grade math is notably lower, with less than a third of students meeting proficiency. Science proficiency in fifth grade is also weak. The school's overall proficiency index places it above the midpoint among El Paso County's districts, but a parent may want to look into the specific grade-level performance in the subjects and grades that matter to their child, since results vary considerably. Only one year of state data is available in the system, so a parent would need to ask the school directly about longer-term trends and whether particular grades or cohorts have shown improvement or decline.
The school's testing is split between STAAR in English and STAAR in Spanish depending on grade and subject, reflecting a bilingual or dual-language learning model. The school operates in the 79930 zip code on the south side of El Paso, an area characterized by older neighborhoods and working-class residential blocks with strong cross-border ties to Ciudad Juárez. The immediate housing market shows modest home values and moderate rental costs relative to the state. A substantial majority of households in the zip code qualify for assistance programs.
As part of El Paso ISD's broader restructuring, Moreno received a Montessori program in the 2023-24 school year, making it one of two elementary campuses in the district offering that educational model. The addition of specialized academic programs like Montessori is meant to differentiate schools and provide families with meaningful educational choice within the system. Several other schools in the district are also getting Extended Day Learning Centers for before- and after-school care. These program expansions are lasting changes in what the district offers, even as enrollment contracts.
The district itself is managing a sharp fiscal challenge. In November 2024, the board voted to close eight elementary schools to address a substantial projected budget deficit. The first wave of closures took effect in 2025-26; two more schools will close for 2026-27. At the same time, the district lowered its property tax rate but homeowners saw monthly increases due to rising property values. EPISD is also exploring a bond election as soon as November 2026 to upgrade aging buildings, replace cooling systems, improve security, and consolidate campuses. If a bond passes, it would increase tax obligations but could substantially improve school facilities.
Parents considering Moreno should note that the school has room to grow in math and science proficiency. Enrollment stability at Moreno appears solid given it was not targeted for closure, and the Montessori offering may appeal to families seeking an alternative instructional approach within the public system. The school's location in south El Paso puts it in a walkable, dense, historically rooted neighborhood with strong community identity, though the broader city is largely car-dependent. Prospective families are advised to speak directly with the school about its bilingual offerings, the Montessori program's structure, and its near-term plans in light of the district's ongoing consolidation.
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