South Texas Isd Preparatory Academy, Edinburg TX

Original Research by School Decision on South Texas Isd Preparatory Academy

South Texas ISD Preparatory Academy is a middle school serving grades six through eight in Edinburg, Texas, situated within a district that has drawn national attention for its unusual funding structure and recent expansion into new grade levels and campus types.

The school's academic profile is notably strong across core subjects. Reading proficiency runs in the upper range across all three grade levels, with the highest results in seventh grade. Mathematics proficiency is solid in sixth grade and remains consistent in eighth. Science proficiency at the eighth-grade level is respectable. Social studies proficiency in eighth grade sits noticeably lower, suggesting a potential soft spot that a parent may want to look into further with the school. When broken down by achievement level, students in reading reach mastery levels at substantial rates, with seventh grade especially strong. Mathematics shows mastery by a notable share of students, though less than reading. Science and social studies show lower rates of mastery, indicating that while many students meet grade-level standards, fewer are reaching advanced performance.

The student body reflects the demographic composition of the Rio Grande Valley, with an overwhelming majority of Hispanic students, a sizable Asian enrollment that is notable for a Texas middle school, and smaller populations of white, Black, and multiracial students. About half of the enrollment qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, a marker of economic need that is common in the region. The school's total enrollment spans all three middle grades fairly evenly.

Edinburg itself is one of the fastest-growing large cities in Texas, a mid-sized community that functions as the Hidalgo County seat and part of the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission metro area. Its economy centers on healthcare, education, government, and logistics, anchored by employers including DHR Health, the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and its School of Medicine, and various state and county offices. The city is spreading outward in car-dependent development, though downtown is undergoing active revitalization around the courthouse and civic core. Housing values are moderate and have risen modestly in recent years. The city's growth is substantial and continuing, with new residential, multifamily, and commercial construction active across multiple neighborhoods.

Within the broader South Texas ISD context, families should know that the district operates under a distinctive and contested funding model. The district levies an extra property tax that applies across three counties to all property owners, whether or not they have children in school. This tax has been the subject of ongoing legal and political challenge. In May 2026, the Texas Supreme Court ruled that a lawsuit challenging this tax could proceed, a development that could have significant implications for the district's operations and financial stability. The district also recently began serving sixth grade for the first time in its history, expanded its middle schools to include sixth through eighth grades, and opened a virtual academy, broadening the range of educational pathways available to families in its service area. A partnership with UTRGV is bringing dual-credit opportunities and exploring the creation of a collegiate high school.

Preparatory Academy sits within this environment as a conventional middle school with demonstrated academic strength in reading and adequate performance in other core subjects, serving a community that is economically diverse and predominantly Hispanic, in a city that is growing rapidly and investing in infrastructure to support that growth.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 682%

School 82% · District 70% · ▲ 12 pts above district

▲ 48 pts above state median · ▲ 50 pts above county median

Grade 880%

School 80% · District 67% · ▲ 13 pts above district

▲ 38 pts above state median · ▲ 33 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 688%

School 88% · District 84% · ▲ 4 pts above district

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

Grade 790%

School 90% · District 84% · ▲ 6 pts above district

▲ 41 pts above state median · ▲ 41 pts above county median

Grade 889%

School 89% · District 86% · ▲ 3 pts above district

▲ 34 pts above state median · ▲ 37 pts above county median

Science

Grade 881%

School 81% · District 70% · ▲ 11 pts above district

▲ 39 pts above state median · ▲ 36 pts above county median

Social studies

Grade 869%

School 69% · District 60% · ▲ 9 pts above district

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

This schoolSOUTH TEXAS 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 6Lower-income80%Higher-income94%14 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income84%Higher-income95%11 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income85%Higher-income94%9 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 6Lower-income73%Higher-income88%15 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income87%Higher-income94%7 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income74%Higher-income85%11 pp gap