The top reported proficiency rate is 43% in English language arts. The lowest is 32% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Airport El
Airport Elementary serves pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in Weslaco, a mid-sized Rio Grande Valley city with a growing residential footprint anchored by a historic downtown district. The school enrolls a small-to-mid-sized cohort, nearly all of whom qualify for free or reduced-price lunch and are Hispanic. The student body is linguistically diverse, with instruction offered in both English and Spanish.
State testing data from the most recent year shows mixed results. In fourth-grade English language arts, the school's proficiency rate on the STAAR sits below the midpoint for districts across Hidalgo County. Fifth-grade math proficiency is low. Grade three results are unavailable because so few students took the English-language version of the assessment; most grade three and grade five students were assessed in Spanish, and those results were not reported. Overall, across all tested subjects and grades, the school's proficiency index places it below the county median. In reading and writing combined, the school is closer to the middle range, with a substantial majority of students reaching the "approaches" level even if fewer meet or exceed grade-level standards in math. Social studies proficiency lags particularly far behind. A parent may want to look into what instruction and support looks like in the lower grades, since testing is sparsest there and classroom performance data may offer a fuller picture.
The school is part of Weslaco ISD, which in 2023 passed a major bond package that is now funding multi-year facility improvements district-wide, including HVAC, roofing, fine arts expansions, and safety upgrades. The bond came with a modest property tax increase that took effect in 2024. Families relocating into the district should account for that new tax rate.
Weslaco itself is on a growth trajectory, with new residential subdivisions and apartment development adding housing supply. The downtown hosts monthly street-closure events featuring live music and arts displays, though schools sit on separated suburban campuses away from the civic core. Healthcare, education, and retail anchor the local economy, along with border logistics. Housing values and rents are moderate for the region.
Airport Elementary's English and math performance both show a concentration of students in the "approaches" level, meaning many students are still building foundational skills rather than working at or above grade level. The gap between "approaches" and "meets" is substantial across both subjects. This is a school where academic support and intervention will likely be central to a child's pathway, especially as students move into the upper elementary grades where testing becomes more formal and the stakes of proficiency become clearer.
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