Edith & Ethel Carman El, San Juan TX

Original Research by School Decision on Edith & Ethel Carman El

Edith & Ethel Carman Elementary is a PreK-5 public school in San Juan, Hidalgo County, serving a community with deep Mexican American cultural roots and active residential growth. The school sits within the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District.

The student population reflects the San Juan area: the enrollment is approximately even across PreK through 5th grade, with a substantial majority of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. The school is predominantly Hispanic, with very few students from other racial or ethnic backgrounds. Data on the share of English learners and students in special education were not available.

Academic results show mixed performance. In English language arts, students in 4th and 5th grade demonstrate stronger proficiency, while in math, performance is lower in 3rd grade and builds through the upper elementary grades. In science, which is tested only in 5th grade, fewer than half of students achieved proficiency. Across all tested subjects, about three-quarters of students reached the "approaches" level, meaning they are making progress toward grade-level standards, while about one in four reached the "master" level. The school's overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile among Hidalgo County districts, a meaningful strength in a county context.

For families considering this school, a few things matter. San Juan itself is a growing residential community with new subdivisions and family-oriented neighborhoods, anchored by the historic downtown and the Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle. The city is car-oriented, with expressway access to regional retail and services in nearby Pharr and McAllen. Housing values in the 78589 ZIP code are below state benchmarks, and rent-to-income ratios are relatively modest, making the area affordable for working families. The neighborhood around Carman Elementary is typical of San Juan's newer growth, close to schools and parks.

The Pharr-San Juan-Alamo district is known for its early-college high school model, which means students can start college coursework as early as 9th grade and graduate with college credit at no cost. This pathways emphasis shapes the district's culture toward post-secondary readiness, though it applies primarily once students leave elementary school. In November 2025, voters rejected a bond for facility upgrades including HVAC replacements and roofing repairs, meaning some aging infrastructure remains unfunded. Parents may want to ask the school directly about facility condition and any planned improvements made through other funding sources.

At the elementary level, Carman serves the foundational grades. The test results suggest that students make progress through the grade band, with 5th graders showing stronger results in reading and math than younger students. This trajectory is typical but worth monitoring; a parent considering the school may want to ask about specific supports for early elementary reading and math, especially given the community's economic profile.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 340%

School 40% · District 21% · ▲ 19 pts above district

even with state median · ▲ 3 pts above county median

Grade 448%

School 48% · District 33% · ▲ 15 pts above district

▲ 7 pts above state median · ▲ 2 pts above county median

Grade 557%

School 57% · District 26% · ▲ 31 pts above district

▲ 16 pts above state median · ▲ 17 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 455%

School 55% · District 56% · ▼ 1 pts below district

▲ 6 pts above state median · ▲ 4 pts above county median

Grade 560%

School 60% · District 55% · ▲ 5 pts above district

▲ 6 pts above state median · ▲ 6 pts above county median

Science

Grade 545%

School 45% · District 13% · ▲ 32 pts above district

▲ 22 pts above state median · ▲ 19 pts above county median

This schoolPHARR-SAN JUAN-ALAMO ISD, 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.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 5Lower-income58%Higher-income71%13 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income36%Higher-income53%17 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income46%Higher-income70%24 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income56%Higher-income64%8 pp gap