The top reported proficiency rate is 67% in Science. The lowest is 54% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on San Perlita El
San Perlita Elementary serves pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in a very small rural community in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, about a short drive northeast of Raymondville. The school is part of San Perlita Independent School District, which consolidated its elementary grades into a newly opened building with nine classrooms and dedicated computer and science labs. The building is modern, and the district's investment in this facility reflects a commitment to upgrading infrastructure for young learners.
The student body is almost entirely Hispanic and Latino, and about half the school qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch. Enrollment is small. The school serves the children of a farming community surrounded by cropland and wind turbines; the broader regional economy depends on agriculture and renewable energy operations that have generated tax revenue for the district but not new residential growth in town. Civic life is centered on the school campus and a handful of public facilities rather than on a commercial downtown, as the town's business base shrank dramatically over the twentieth century. Most families own their homes.
On state assessments, the school shows uneven performance across grades and subjects. In mathematics, proficiency is low in third grade, improves to about even in fourth grade, then strengthens notably in fifth grade. Reading and language arts follows a similar pattern, with lower third-grade results, a dip in fourth grade, and stronger fifth-grade performance. Fifth grade science proficiency is solid. When looking at the school as a whole across all tested subjects and grades, the overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile relative to the other districts in Willacy County, a meaningful distinction. However, a parent should recognize that proficiency rates vary considerably by grade level, particularly in the lower elementary grades, and that fourth grade shows notably softer results in both reading and math. The reasons for that grade-specific pattern would be worth exploring directly with the school.
The school assesses students on the English-language version of the STAAR exam. Data on English learner enrollment rates and the share of students receiving special education services are not available, so a parent with questions about language support or specialized instruction should ask the school directly about those programs and staffing.
The district recently took on significant new debt to fund the new elementary building and related improvements, which has implications for future property taxes that support debt service. For families in the district, this is a worthwhile tradeoff in terms of facility quality but represents an ongoing fiscal commitment.
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