John F Kennedy Elementary

Summary:

John F Kennedy Elementary is a public elementary school in Mercedes, Texas, serving 462 students in grades PK-5. The school is part of the Mercedes Independent School District, which is ranked 860 out of 968 districts in the state and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

John F Kennedy Elementary faces significant academic challenges, consistently ranking in the bottom quartile of Texas elementary schools. The school's performance on STAAR tests is significantly below state and district averages across all grade levels and subject areas, particularly in mathematics. For example, in 2023-2024, only 18.64% of 3rd graders were proficient or better in STAAR Reading, compared to 48.85% statewide and 23.55% in the Mercedes ISD. The school's performance is consistently lower than the state and district averages for all student subgroups, including female students, male students, Hispanic students, English Language Learners, special education students, and economically disadvantaged students.

Compared to nearby schools within the Mercedes ISD, such as Ruben Hinojosa Elementary and Travis Elementary, John F Kennedy Elementary performs significantly worse on academic measures. Additionally, the Idea public charter schools in the Weslaco area, such as Idea Academy Weslaco and Idea Weslaco Pike Academy, consistently outperform John F Kennedy Elementary on academic measures.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

 801 Hidalgo St
       Mercedes, TX  78570-0419


(956) 514-2300

District: Mercedes Independent School District (Isd)

SchoolDigger Rank:
4316th of 4,675 Texas Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $12,205 Help


Students who attend John F Kennedy Elementary usually attend:

Middle:    Sgt William G Harrell Middle
High:    Mercedes High School

Student/teacher ratio:  13.4 Help
Number of students:  414

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
98.1%
White:
1.4%
American Indian:
0.2%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  94.4% Help


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Performance Trends
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Compare Details John F Kennedy Elementary ranks worse than 92.3% of elementary schools in Texas. It also ranks last among 4 ranked elementary schools in the Mercedes Independent School District (Isd). (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 14.41. (See more...)
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: Hispanic (98.1%), White (1.4%), American Indian (0.2%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 94.4% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at John F Kennedy Elementary is 13.4. 2 elementary schools in the Mercedes Independent School District (Isd) have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
Help
Compare John F Kennedy Elementary employs 30.8 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at John F Kennedy Elementary is $12,205, which is the 2nd highest among 4 elementary schools in the Mercedes Independent School District (Isd).
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

John F Kennedy Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks John F Kennedy Elementary 4316th of 4675 Texas public elementary schools. (See John F Kennedy Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


English Language Learner students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Hispanic students:


Mercedes Independent School District (Isd):

SchoolDigger ranks Mercedes Independent School District (Isd) 860th of 968 Texas school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for John F Kennedy Elementary

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Rank History for all students at John F Kennedy Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2011 15.50 3861st 4095 5.7%
2012 10.91 4078th 4206 3.0%
2013 22.26 3715th 4221 12.0%
2014 16.58 3934th 4260 7.7%
2015 25.62 3545th 4320 17.9%
2016 17.54 3842nd 4286 10.4%
2017 28.38 3242nd 4329 25.1%
2018 28.53 3277th 4359 24.8%
2019 25.95 3576th 4479 20.2%
2021 13.68 4304th 4578 6.0%
2022 22.36 3821st 4581 16.6%
2023 31.80 3282nd 4647 29.4%
2024 14.41 4316th 4675 7.7%
See the entire list of Texas Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at John F Kennedy Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 46.51 1677th 3226 48.0%
2019 49.16 1610th 3333 51.7%
2021 32.65 2516th 3446 27.0%
2022 30.32 2752nd 3487 21.1%
2023 35.40 2502nd 3556 29.6%
2024 20.45 3238th 3638 11.0%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at John F Kennedy Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 45.63 1659th 3558 53.4%
2019 46.97 1597th 3684 56.7%
2021 35.23 2390th 3799 37.1%
2022 46.43 1804th 3952 54.4%
2023 27.09 3340th 4086 18.3%
2024 31.19 3178th 4261 25.4%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at John F Kennedy Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 36.60 2936th 4264 31.1%
2019 32.99 3265th 4309 24.2%
2021 17.85 4136th 4451 7.1%
2022 31.85 3395th 4477 24.2%
2023 42.60 2701st 4521 40.3%
2024 19.93 4127th 4560 9.5%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Migrant students at John F Kennedy Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 27.51 98th 112 12.5%
2019 32.14 75th 93 19.4%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for Migrant Students!

Rank History for Female students at John F Kennedy Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 33.41 3037th 4306 29.5%
2019 23.49 3692nd 4348 15.1%
2021 11.86 4366th 4499 3.0%
2022 23.76 3815th 4561 16.4%
2023 29.18 3463rd 4588 24.5%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at John F Kennedy Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 10.30 3012th 3106 3.0%
2019 6.67 3128th 3184 1.8%
2021 12.86 2779th 3006 7.6%
2022 20.47 2690th 2958 9.1%
2023 29.70 2556th 2980 14.2%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for Gifted and Talented Students!

Rank History for At Risk students at John F Kennedy Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 56.50 1538th 4240 63.7%
2019 48.38 2082nd 4295 51.5%
2021 31.85 3227th 4331 25.5%
2022 41.86 2682nd 4461 39.9%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for At Risk Students!

Rank History for Male students at John F Kennedy Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 25.90 3501st 4319 18.9%
2019 29.96 3314th 4357 23.9%
2021 19.14 3931st 4498 12.6%
2022 24.07 3752nd 4563 17.8%
2023 36.96 2953rd 4585 35.6%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at John F Kennedy Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 33.89 2997th 4168 28.1%
2019 31.34 3204th 4188 23.5%
2021 17.35 4041st 4329 6.7%
2022 27.55 3549th 4376 18.9%
2023 37.56 2916th 4401 33.7%
2024 19.65 3981st 4431 10.2%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Data source: test scores: Texas Education Agency, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

John F Kennedy Elementary Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
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Data source: Texas Education Agency

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 1)
0%

0%

0%

0%

100%

  

Reviews:
by a parent
Friday, April 6, 2012

Open Quote the teachers are the bullies,and i tried to tell the principle and it just makes the situation worse for my child.the teachers r picking on my child,he doesn't like school anymore.if it was my choice i would let him go to taylor. Close Quote



Enrollment information for John F Kennedy Elementary

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
2010 0 0 0 401 0 n/a n/a 0 401
2011 2 0 0 482 0 0 0 0 484
2012 1 0 0 442 1 0 0 0 444
2013 2 0 0 415 0 0 0 0 417
2014 5 0 0 434 1 0 0 0 440
2015 3 1 0 454 1 0 1 0 460
2016 2 1 0 463 1 0 1 0 468
2017 0 0 0 701 1 0 1 0 703
2018 6 3 0 711 2 0 4 0 726
2019 4 1 0 541 1 0 5 0 552
2020 4 1 0 492 1 0 2 0 500
2021 3 2 0 437 1 0 2 0 445
2022 3 0 0 401 1 0 3 0 408
2023 5 0 0 455 1 0 1 0 462
2024 6 0 0 406 1 0 1 0 414

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at John F Kennedy Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2010 401 28.9 13.8 0
2011 484 32.0 15.1 0
2012 444 30.5 14.5 0
2013 417 33.9 12.2 97.8
2014 440 30.8 14.2 98.2
2015 460 30.0 15.3 94.8
2016 468 31.0 15.0 91.7
2017 703 38.6 18.1 95.7
2018 726 39.6 18.2 94.5
2019 552 35.9 15.3 95.3
2020 500 31.6 15.8 94.2
2021 445 29.0 15.3 92.1
2022 408 30.0 13.5 97.8
2023 462 29.5 15.6 96.5
2024 414 30.8 13.4 94.4

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio John F Kennedy Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2010 401 28.9 13.8 0
2011 484 32.0 15.1 0
2012 444 30.5 14.5 0
2013 417 33.9 12.2 97.8
2014 440 30.8 14.2 98.2
2015 460 30.0 15.3 94.8
2016 468 31.0 15.0 91.7
2017 703 38.6 18.1 95.7
2018 726 39.6 18.2 94.5
2019 552 35.9 15.3 95.3
2020 500 31.6 15.8 94.2
2021 445 29.0 15.3 92.1
2022 408 30.0 13.5 97.8
2023 462 29.5 15.6 96.5
2024 414 30.8 13.4 94.4

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for John F Kennedy Elementary

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $1,356 (12.8%) $9,199 (87.2%) $10,555
2020 $1,121 (10.9%) $9,126 (89.1%) $10,247
2021 $2,956 (24.2%) $9,248 (75.8%) $12,205

Data source: Texas Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on John F Kennedy Elementary

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 3576th of 4479 Elementary schoolsRanks 3282nd of 4647 Elementary schools
 9.2%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade Reading (John F Kennedy Elementary)2120
 1%
   3rd Grade Reading (Mercedes Independent School District (Isd))3130
 1%
   3rd Grade Reading (Texas)4450
 6%
3rd Grade Mathematics (John F Kennedy Elementary)3722
 15%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Mercedes Independent School District (Isd))3832
 6%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Texas)4843
 5%
4th Grade Reading (John F Kennedy Elementary)1641
 25%
   4th Grade Reading (Mercedes Independent School District (Isd))2533
 8%
   4th Grade Reading (Texas)4347
 4%
4th Grade Mathematics (John F Kennedy Elementary)2844
 16%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Mercedes Independent School District (Isd))3441
 7%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Texas)4647
 1%
5th Grade Reading (John F Kennedy Elementary)4060
 20%
   5th Grade Reading (Mercedes Independent School District (Isd))3851
 13%
   5th Grade Reading (Texas)5156
 5%
5th Grade Mathematics (John F Kennedy Elementary)5641
 15%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Mercedes Independent School District (Isd))5047
 3%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Texas)5650
 6%
5th Grade Science (John F Kennedy Elementary)4413
 31%
   5th Grade Science (Mercedes Independent School District (Isd))4319
 24%
   5th Grade Science (Texas)4834
 14%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students552462
 16.3%
African American10
 100%
American Indian11
Asian00
Hispanic541455
 15.9%
Pacific Islander00
White45
 25%
Two or More Races51
 80%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients95.3%96.5%
 1.2%


Schools Near John F Kennedy Elementary









Frequently Asked Questions about John F Kennedy Elementary

Students at John F Kennedy Elementary are 98% Hispanic, 1% White.

Students who attend John F Kennedy Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Sgt William G Harrell Middle
High : Mercedes High School

In the 2023-24 school year, 414 students attended John F Kennedy Elementary.

John F Kennedy Elementary ranks in the bottom 7.7% of Texas elementary schools.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Texas Education Agency.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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