The top reported proficiency rate is 51% in Science. The lowest is 21% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on Domingo Trevino Middle
Domingo Trevino Middle serves grades six through eight in Alton, a fast-growing suburb in the Rio Grande Valley west of McAllen. The school is part of La Joya ISD, which has been under state control since February 2024 after a TEA investigation substantiated fraud and conflicts of interest by the prior elected board. The state-appointed board of managers, extended through February 2028, now oversees the district's governance and academic direction.
The school's enrollment is small, distributed evenly across its three grade levels. Nearly all students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and the student body is entirely Hispanic. The school's demographic profile reflects the economic circumstances of its community: Alton is a growing residential area where most families own their homes but with median household income substantially below the national benchmark.
Academic performance at Domingo Trevino presents a mixed picture across grade levels. In English language arts, grade six students perform better than grades seven and eight, with about one-third meeting proficiency standards. By grade eight, slightly less than half of students meet or exceed proficiency in ELA. Mathematics performance is notably uneven: sixth graders show very low proficiency, seventh graders perform even lower, but eighth graders show substantial improvement, with about half meeting standards. Science and social studies assessments are administered only at grade eight; roughly half the eighth-grade cohort meets proficiency in science, while only about one-fifth meet standards in social studies. When assessed on a broader measure that includes students approaching proficiency, the school shows stronger results across subjects, suggesting many students are on a learning trajectory even when not yet fully proficient.
A parent may want to look into further what academic supports the school offers for sixth and seventh graders in mathematics, given the sharp improvement seen by grade eight, to understand what interventions or instruction changes contribute to that shift. The low eighth-grade proficiency in social studies also warrants conversation with school staff about curriculum and instructional approaches in that subject.
Relative to other districts in Hidalgo County, Domingo Trevino's overall proficiency index falls below the midpoint. The school does not report chronic absenteeism or graduation-rate data, which is typical for a middle school that does not serve the grades at which those metrics are tracked.
Alton itself is one of the fastest-growing communities in South Texas, attracting families drawn to new residential subdivisions and lower housing costs compared to nearby McAllen. The city is car-dependent, organized around Main Street (SH 83), which is undergoing a TxDOT-funded widening project meant to spur commercial growth. The Alton Recreation Center serves as a community anchor, offering pools, youth sports, summer camps, and social services. Transit options are limited; Valley Metro's Flex system provides on-demand rides within a half-mile of fixed routes serving neighboring cities.
The district is also navigating significant enrollment decline. La Joya ISD has lost students over the past decade, which has prompted school consolidations. As of January 2026, the board voted to permanently close three elementary schools and one middle school (Ann Richards) and to repurpose another middle school (J.D. Salinas) into a career academy starting the 2026-2027 school year. These closures reassign students to other campuses and modify school zoning, directly changing which school affected families' children will attend. Parents expressed concerns about transportation and class sizes in the wake of these consolidations. For families considering Domingo Trevino, this context matters: the district is in transition, with governance concentrated in a state-appointed board rather than locally elected leadership through 2028, and with ongoing facility changes that may affect peer groupings and commute patterns.
See more original research from School Decision →