The top reported proficiency rate is 69% in English language arts. The lowest is 37% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Raul a Gonzalez Jr El
Raul A Gonzalez Jr Elementary is a public school serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in Weslaco, Texas. The school enrolls a small-to-mid-sized population of students, with a demographic composition that is overwhelmingly Hispanic and economically disadvantaged: the vast majority of families qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a neighborhood elementary school in a district undertaking a multi-year facilities transformation funded by a bond approved by voters in late 2023, which covers air conditioning, roofing, safety improvements, and fine arts and athletic upgrades across the system.
On state assessments, the school shows mixed results. In English language arts at grades four and five, students performed with reasonable strength, particularly in fourth grade where proficiency rates reached a solid level. Fifth-grade ELA performance dropped noticeably but remained respectable. Mathematics proficiency in grades four and five ran lower, sitting around the midpoint. Fifth-grade science proficiency was notably weak. State testing data for grade three on both math and ELA were either absent or too sparse to report, which is typical for that grade in some assessment windows.
When measured against a broader category of all proficiency levels (approaches, meets, and masters), the school's profile becomes clearer. Across all subjects, about four in five students reached the "approaches" level (the lowest proficiency tier), while a quarter to just over a quarter reached "meets" or higher. In ELA specifically, a larger share approached proficiency, but only about a third achieved mastery. In math, the "meets" and "masters" rates were even lower. Science and social studies showed the softest performance at the higher proficiency tiers, especially social studies, where mastery rates were quite low.
Relative to other school districts in Hidalgo County, Raul A Gonzalez Jr Elementary's overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile, suggesting it is outperforming many of its county neighbors despite the low absolute proficiency numbers. This is an important distinction: the school is a stronger performer in its regional context, even as it reflects the challenging demographics and resource constraints common across much of the Rio Grande Valley.
The school sits in a community undergoing steady growth. Weslaco itself is a mid-sized Rio Grande Valley city with a mixed-use downtown, strong agricultural heritage, and expanding retail and residential sectors. Civic anchors include the public library and the Mayor Eugene A. Braught Memorial Theater. The city is adding new residential subdivisions and apartments. Housing values in the zip code are modest, and rents are affordable, making the area accessible to working families. The district's 2023 bond approval signals district-wide commitment to facility improvements, though families should note that the bond includes a property tax increase, which will be payable beginning in 2025.
Raul A Gonzalez Jr Elementary offers a traditional elementary curriculum across the tested grade bands. No information on specialized programming, magnet designations, or enrichment offerings was available in the provided data. For families considering the school, the key context is that this is a Title I elementary serving a predominantly low-income, Hispanic student body in a working-class community, with demonstrated capacity to outperform its county comparison group, but with proficiency rates that reveal ongoing challenges in mathematics, science, and higher-level mastery. A parent may want to discuss with the school how it is supporting students who enter below grade level, and what targeted support is available in mathematics, where performance lags behind ELA.
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