Located in LAREDO, TX. Serving grades 06 through 08.
Elias Herrera Middle serves students in grades six through eight in Laredo, a large border city whose economy pivots on international trade and logistics. The school enrolls about a thousand students, nearly all Hispanic, and approximately half of its enrollment qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch. The school reflects the community it serves: working families in an economy anchored in transportation and warehousing, with new residential growth pushing northward and eastward.
English language arts is a clear strength. Across the three grades, a strong majority of students meet or exceed proficiency in reading and writing, with the eighth-grade cohort reaching a notably high performance level. By contrast, mathematics shows a wider spread. Sixth and seventh graders struggle more visibly with math skills, while eighth graders demonstrate substantially stronger proficiency. Science performance lands in the middle range for eighth graders, while social studies is the softest area, with proficiency rates running lower across performance levels. The school reports that most students reach the "approaches" level—a lower tier that indicates foundational progress—but fewer students reach the "meets" and "master" tiers, particularly in math, science, and social studies.
Texas assesses only certain grades in certain subjects, so the school's profile captures reading and math across all three grades, plus science and social studies for eighth graders only. Trend data was not available from prior years, so it is not possible to see whether these results represent improvement, decline, or stability over time.
Among Webb County districts, Elias Herrera's overall proficiency index places it in the top tier, a meaningful position that reflects particular strength in English language arts pulling the overall score upward. Relative to nearby districts, this school's results are notably stronger.
The school is located on McPherson Road in the eastern part of the city, in an area experiencing growth and new residential development. Housing in Laredo is relatively affordable compared to state and national benchmarks, and the rental market is tight but stable. For families in the United ISD zone, property tax rates on home purchases have recently declined, a direct factor in the cost of living in the district.
District changes underway include a new early childhood program serving children as young as three, which may matter for families with younger siblings, and a renewed focus on reading comprehension at all grade levels—a priority that aligns with the strong English language arts results visible here but also signals where the district believes more work is needed in other areas.
This is a school where English language arts instruction is delivering solid results and where eighth-grade math performance is strong, but where sixth and seventh graders encounter real difficulty with mathematics. Families weighing this school may want to explore with the principal or teachers what supports are available for students struggling in early-grades math and whether the eighth-grade success represents a turning point or reflects a different cohort entirely. The school serves a student body that reflects Laredo's demographics and economic profile, and it stands above its neighbors in the county.
Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.
Officially reported figures, 2024-25.
All reported measures, by topic.