The top reported proficiency rate is 74% in Math. The lowest is 0% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Pierce El
Pierce Elementary serves children from pre-K through fifth grade in Laredo, a predominantly Hispanic border city anchored in logistics and international trade. The school enrolls about a school-sized population of students, virtually all from low-income households; nearly all qualify for free or reduced-price meals. The student body is almost entirely Hispanic.
The school's recent state test results show uneven performance across subjects. In mathematics at fifth grade, Pierce's proficiency rate reached the mid-level range, showing solid ground-level competency. English language arts at fifth grade came in a few points lower, also around the two-thirds range. Third grade in English language arts performed considerably weaker, at roughly half proficient. A small cohort tested in science at fifth grade showed no proficiency, though the sample was tiny. Data for some grades and language versions of the test are incomplete or too small to report. On Texas's scale of four performance levels, the school reached "approaches" (the first threshold) in math and "meets" (second level) in both math and English language arts school-wide, with a smaller share reaching "masters," the top tier.
Pierce sits within Laredo ISD, a district navigating substantial headwinds. Enrollment has been falling year over year and is projected to continue declining, which directly squeezes the district's budget since Texas school funding follows attendance. Per-pupil dollars have barely risen even as costs climb. Parents considering this school should be aware that the district is bracing for steady drops that could mean future consolidation, program cuts, or service reductions; this is a conversation worth having with the school or district to understand what stability means for a family planning to stay. One countervailing feature of LISD is its deliberate structure of specialty and early-college high schools that begin in elementary neighborhoods and feed upward. Though that pathway begins long after Pierce, families here are already in a district built around college- and career-focused options at the secondary level.
The school's immediate surroundings reflect Laredo's character as a working-class, family-oriented city with retail and logistics at its heart. Housing values in the zip code are moderate relative to national benchmarks, and rent-to-income ratios suggest affordability, though high poverty rates in Pierce's enrollment mean most families qualify for assistance. The city's walkability is uneven, with a strong downtown core but automobile-dependent sprawl to the north and east, where new development is clustering. Job growth is tied to the Port of Laredo, healthcare, education, and logistics firms.
The main question for families at Pierce is whether they are comfortable with the combination of modest, mixed academic results and the district's enrollment and budget pressures. The school delivers a foundational program in a high-poverty setting; its strength in approaching grade-level math is a real asset, while English language proficiency lagging behind math is a pattern that merits direct conversation with teachers about reading and writing support. A parent may want to look into further with the school what kind of tutoring, intervention, or enrichment is on offer, and whether the district's fiscal challenges will affect staffing or resources in coming years.
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