Bowie El, Harlingen TX - Test Scores & Data

Original Research by School Decision on Bowie El

Bowie Elementary serves grades pre-K through fifth in Harlingen, Texas, a city anchored by healthcare, education, and aerospace sectors in the Rio Grande Valley. The school enrolls a small student body that is predominantly Hispanic and economically disadvantaged. The vast majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and the school is located in a residential neighborhood on Lincoln Avenue.

On state testing, Bowie shows a mixed picture across grades and subjects. In mathematics, third grade proficiency lags noticeably, while fourth grade performs quite strongly. Fifth grade sits in the middle. In English language arts, third grade also shows lower proficiency relative to grades four and five, which post substantially higher results. Fifth grade science proficiency is moderate. When viewed across the school as a whole, the data shows strength in students meeting or approaching grade-level standards in social studies, and somewhat stronger ground in the upper elementary grades than in third grade, where both math and reading proficiency are under half. A parent may want to look into what reading and math support looks like in third grade specifically, and what transitions occur that correlate with the gains visible in grades four and five.

The district context matters. Harlingen CISD has faced a significant financial crisis that affected staffing and services. In 2025, the Texas Education Agency lowered the district's financial rating to a C, the first time since the rating system was created that the district fell from its prior consistent A marks. The prior administration withdrew substantial funds from reserves, and recovery is projected to take several years. The district has cut about staffing positions as part of a fiscal consolidation. Parents should be aware that this financial instability may affect program availability, hiring, and operational continuity as the district rebuilds.

On a more positive note, the district has implemented the Capturing Kids' Hearts social-emotional learning program district-wide since 2022, funded by a three-year grant. By 2024-2025, eleven elementary campuses, including schools in the district, earned national showcase recognition for this program. The approach trains staff in relationship-building strategies that shape daily classroom culture. Bowie's participation in this effort is part of the district's commitment to school climate and student-staff relationships.

Housing in the area is relatively affordable. Home values and rental costs are below state and national benchmarks, making the neighborhood accessible for families seeking lower housing costs. The local employment base is diverse and stable, centered on healthcare, education, manufacturing, and telecommunications, with many positions suited to bilingual workers.

For families considering Bowie, the school offers early childhood through upper elementary in a high-poverty, predominantly Hispanic community where the district is rebuilding financial stability while maintaining focus on social-emotional learning and relationship-centered instruction. Test results show capable performance in grades four and five alongside weaker proficiency in third grade literacy and mathematics that warrants conversation with school leadership.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 339%

School 39% · District 38% · ▲ 1 pts above district

▼ 1 pts below state median · ▲ 3 pts above county median

Grade 485%

School 85% · District 8% · ▲ 77 pts above district

▲ 44 pts above state median · ▲ 34 pts above county median

Grade 568%

School 68% · District 47% · ▲ 21 pts above district

▲ 27 pts above state median · ▲ 21 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 337%

School 37% · District 31% · ▲ 6 pts above district

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

Grade 474%

School 74% · District 55% · ▲ 19 pts above district

▲ 25 pts above state median · ▲ 20 pts above county median

Grade 581%

School 81% · District 29% · ▲ 52 pts above district

▲ 27 pts above state median · ▲ 24 pts above county median

Science

Grade 565%

School 65% · District 28% · ▲ 37 pts above district

▲ 42 pts above state median · ▲ 39 pts above county median

This schoolHARLINGEN CISD, 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.