The top reported proficiency rate is 25% in English language arts. The lowest is 0% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Secondary Alter Ctr
Secondary Alternative Center is a small public alternative school serving grades six through twelve in Harlingen. It enrolls a student body that is almost entirely Hispanic and economically disadvantaged, with a substantial majority qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. The school's enrollment is modest, with only a handful of students in the lowest grades and somewhat larger numbers in the middle and high school grades.
On state assessments administered in 2021-22, the school's academic performance was weak across all tested subjects and grade levels. In math, students in grades six, seven, and eight showed proficiency rates at zero, indicating no students met or exceeded state standards in that subject at those grade levels. Reading and language arts results were similarly low in sixth grade and science and social studies proficiency rates in eighth grade were in the single digits. Only seventh-grade English language arts showed a measurable pass rate. The school's overall proficiency index placed it in the bottom quartile among districts in Cameron County. Most recent state testing data for 2024-25 has been suppressed, which is common for small schools or alternative programs where small cell sizes could identify individual students.
As an alternative school, Secondary Alternative Center serves a different population and purpose than traditional public schools. Alternative schools typically serve students who have not thrived in conventional settings, those recovering from discipline issues, students with significant attendance problems, or youth seeking a more personalized or flexible academic pathway. The school's small size and grade configuration suggest it functions as a re-engagement or recovery program within Harlingen CISD. The very low proficiency rates reflect the characteristics of the population it serves: students entering the school often arrive significantly behind grade level and with histories of academic struggle or disengagement. Parents considering this school should understand that alternative programs prioritize re-enrollment, credit recovery, and pathway completion over standardized test performance and that the testing data alone does not capture the school's actual mission or effectiveness for its intended population.
The parent district, Harlingen CISD, has faced significant fiscal and operational challenges. Publicly reported, the district experienced a major financial crisis beginning around 2022 when the prior administration drew down cash reserves, causing the fund balance to drop sharply over two years. In response, the district implemented substantial cost cuts and reduced staffing. In 2025, the Texas Education Agency assigned the district a financial rating of C for the first time in decades, signaling ongoing strain on district resources and stability. At the same time, the district launched a district-wide social-emotional learning program called Capturing Kids' Hearts in 2022-23 with foundation funding, and by 2024-25 several elementary schools earned national recognition for the program. This combination of financial constraint and concurrent investment in classroom culture suggests a district working to maintain educational quality despite resource pressures.
Harlingen is located in the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas. The city's economy is anchored by healthcare, education, telecommunications and call centers, manufacturing, and aerospace logistics. Housing costs in the area are below state and national benchmarks, and median household income aligns with national norms. For families considering Secondary Alternative Center, the decision hinges on whether the school's alternative model, small size, and recovery-focused approach fit a student's academic history and needs. The school is not a traditional pathway and its test results should be read in that context. A parent may want to speak directly with school staff about the school's curriculum, credit-recovery offerings, graduation rates for the school itself, and how it supports students in transitioning back to traditional high school or toward graduation.
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