Mercedes Independent School District (Isd)

The Mercedes Independent School District (ISD) in Texas operates 9 schools, including 4 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 3 high schools, serving a predominantly Hispanic student population. While the district faces challenges, with most schools performing below state averages on standardized tests, one school stands out as a potential bright spot - Mercedes Early College Academy.

Mercedes Early College Academy is the highest-ranked school in the district, earning a 3-out-of-5-star rating from SchoolDigger and outperforming the district and state on STAAR end-of-course exams. The school also boasts an impressive 100% four-year graduation rate and a low 0.3% dropout rate. In contrast, other high schools in the district, such as Mercedes High School, have graduation rates ranging from 64.8% to 93.1%, and dropout rates as high as 10.4%.

The Mercedes ISD schools face significant socioeconomic challenges, with all campuses having very high percentages of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 81.92% to 96.54%. This high poverty level may be a contributing factor to the district's overall underperformance on standardized tests, where proficiency rates lag behind state averages. Addressing these systemic challenges, while also learning from the success of Mercedes Early College Academy, could be crucial for improving educational outcomes across the district.