South Palm Gardens High School

Summary:

South Palm Gardens High School is a small public high school in Mercedes, Texas, serving grades 9-12 with a student population of just 65 students. The school is part of the Weslaco Independent School District (ISD), which is ranked 594 out of 968 districts in Texas and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

South Palm Gardens High School faces significant academic challenges, consistently underperforming compared to state and district averages on STAAR End-of-Course (EOC) exams. In 2022-2023, the school had 0% proficiency in Algebra I, 11% in Biology, 0% in English I Reading, 8% in English II Reading, and 57% in U.S. History - all well below the Weslaco ISD and Texas state averages. The school's four-year graduation rate has improved but remains slightly lower than the state average, and its dropout rate has fluctuated, ranging from 1.0% to 4.5%. Additionally, over 90% of South Palm Gardens High School students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high level of economic disadvantage.

When compared to other schools in the area, South Palm Gardens High School consistently underperforms. For example, Weslaco 21st Century CTE Early College High School, also in the Weslaco ISD, outperforms South Palm Gardens High School on STAAR EOC exams. Additionally, the nearby South Texas Independent School District (ISD) operates two high-performing specialized schools, the Health Professions and Science Academy, which significantly outperform South Palm Gardens High School and the Weslaco ISD on academic measures.

Detail:

Public 10-12

2607 Camino Real Viejo
Mercedes, TX 78570-9673

(956) 565-0404

District: Weslaco Independent School District (Isd)

Per Pupil Expenditures: $19,724

Student/teacher ratio: 11.7

Number of students: 66

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

98.5%

White:

1.5%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 89.4%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details South Palm Gardens High School is not ranked due for the most recent year due to insufficient test score data. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 13.27. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at South Palm Gardens High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.

Student Body

Compare Details South Palm Gardens High School has the smallest high school student body size in the Weslaco Independent School District (Isd). Racial makeup is: Hispanic (98.5%), White (1.5%). (See more...)

Compare Details 89.4% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the highest percentage in the Weslaco Independent School District (Isd). (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at South Palm Gardens High School is 11.7, which is the lowest among 3 high schools in the Weslaco Independent School District (Isd)! (See more...)

Compare South Palm Gardens High School employs 5.6 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at South Palm Gardens High School is $19,724, which is the highest among 3 high schools in the Weslaco Independent School District (Isd)!

Schooldigger Rankings:

South Palm Gardens High School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

Weslaco Independent School District (Isd):

SchoolDigger ranks Weslaco Independent School District (Isd) 483^rd of 968 Texas school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for South Palm Gardens High School

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Rank History for all students at South Palm Gardens High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	TX State Percentile
2004	49.43	911^th	1427	36.2%
2005	27.13	1202^nd	1429	15.9%
2006	35.01	1092^nd	1430	23.6%
2007	19.57	1324^th	1497	11.6%
2008	29.77	1258^th	1510	16.7%
2009	8.42	1466^th	1539	4.7%
2010	10.93	1475^th	1568	5.9%
2011	12.17	1557^th	1672	6.9%
2012	0.49	1589^th	1603	0.9%
2014	31.78	1309^th	1734	24.5%
2015	14.48	1542^nd	1743	11.5%
2016	1.94	1707^th	1762	3.1%
2017	4.95	1696^th	1777	4.6%
2018	6.29	1673^rd	1797	6.9%
2019	9.85	1670^th	1857	10.1%
2023	13.27	1700^th	1961	13.3%

See the entire list of Texas High School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at South Palm Gardens High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	TX State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	33.95	817^th	1371	40.4%

See the entire list of Best Texas High Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at South Palm Gardens High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	TX State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	19.70	1585^th	1897	16.4%

See the entire list of Best Texas High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at South Palm Gardens High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	TX State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	18.94	1560^th	1891	17.5%

See the entire list of Best Texas High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at South Palm Gardens High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	TX State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	12.37	1688^th	1913	11.8%

See the entire list of Best Texas High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at South Palm Gardens High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	TX State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	13.69	1589^th	1820	12.7%

See the entire list of Best Texas High 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.

Data source: Texas Education Agency

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Enrollment information for South Palm Gardens High School

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Year	White	African American	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
1994	2	0	64	0	n/a	n/a	66
1995	3	0	88	0	n/a	n/a	91
1996	3	0	88	0	n/a	n/a	91
1997	3	0	96	0	n/a	n/a	99
1998	2	0	78	0	n/a	n/a	80
1999	1	0	92	0	n/a	n/a	93
2000	2	1	81	0	n/a	n/a	84
2001	2	0	76	1	n/a	n/a	79
2002	1	0	74	0	n/a	n/a	75
2003	1	0	74	0	n/a	n/a	75
2004	1	0	62	0	n/a	n/a	63
2005	1	0	53	0	n/a	n/a	54
2006	2	0	59	0	n/a	n/a	61
2007	2	0	92	0	n/a	n/a	94
2008	2	0	57	0	n/a	n/a	59
2009	0	0	63	0	n/a	n/a	63
2010	4	0	86	0	n/a	n/a	90
2011	0	0	87	0	0	0	87
2012	2	1	197	1	0	0	201
2013	0	1	113	3	0	0	117
2014	0	0	92	0	0	0	92
2015	0	0	93	0	0	0	93
2016	0	0	94	0	0	0	94
2017	0	0	80	0	0	0	80
2018	0	0	63	0	0	0	63
2019	0	0	76	0	0	0	76
2020	0	0	47	2	0	0	49
2021	0	0	68	0	0	0	68
2022	2	0	64	0	0	0	66
2023	0	0	65	0	0	0	65
2024	1	0	65	0	0	0	66

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 South Palm Gardens High School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1994	66	7.0	9.4	59.1
1995	91	7.4	12.3	70.3
1996	91	7.4	12.3	70.3
1997	99	9.0	11.0	72.7
1998	80	9.0	8.9	75
1999	93	8.0	11.6	76.3
2000	84	9.0	9.3	79.8
2001	79	8.0	9.9	65.8
2002	75	9.1	8.2	78.7
2003	75	9.1	8.2	78.7
2004	63	9.3	6.8	76.2
2005	54	9.9	5.5	70.4
2006	61	9.2	6.6	65.6
2007	94	8.9	10.6	63.8
2008	59	9.7	6.1	59.3
2009	63	9.0	7.0	66.7
2010	90	10.7	8.4	56.7
2011	87	10.2	8.4	44.8
2012	201	6.7	29.7	29.9
2013	117	5.0	23.4	77.8
2014	92	5.5	16.6	96.7
2015	93	7.0	13.2	74.2
2016	94	7.0	13.4	72.3
2017	80	7.0	11.4	91.3
2018	63	6.7	9.3	92.1
2019	76	6.8	11.1	96.1
2020	49	6.6	7.4	98
2021	68	5.7	11.8	94.1
2022	66	5.5	11.8	84.8
2023	65	5.6	11.5	92.3
2024	66	5.6	11.7	89.4

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 South Palm Gardens High School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1994	66	7.0	9.4	59.1
1995	91	7.4	12.3	70.3
1996	91	7.4	12.3	70.3
1997	99	9.0	11.0	72.7
1998	80	9.0	8.9	75
1999	93	8.0	11.6	76.3
2000	84	9.0	9.3	79.8
2001	79	8.0	9.9	65.8
2002	75	9.1	8.2	78.7
2003	75	9.1	8.2	78.7
2004	63	9.3	6.8	76.2
2005	54	9.9	5.5	70.4
2006	61	9.2	6.6	65.6
2007	94	8.9	10.6	63.8
2008	59	9.7	6.1	59.3
2009	63	9.0	7.0	66.7
2010	90	10.7	8.4	56.7
2011	87	10.2	8.4	44.8
2012	201	6.7	29.7	29.9
2013	117	5.0	23.4	77.8
2014	92	5.5	16.6	96.7
2015	93	7.0	13.2	74.2
2016	94	7.0	13.4	72.3
2017	80	7.0	11.4	91.3
2018	63	6.7	9.3	92.1
2019	76	6.8	11.1	96.1
2020	49	6.6	7.4	98
2021	68	5.7	11.8	94.1
2022	66	5.5	11.8	84.8
2023	65	5.6	11.5	92.3
2024	66	5.6	11.7	89.4

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 South Palm Gardens High School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$213 (1.2%)	$17,872 (98.8%)	$18,085
2020	$271 (0.7%)	$38,135 (99.3%)	$38,407
2021	$691 (3.5%)	$19,033 (96.5%)	$19,724

Data source: Texas Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on South Palm Gardens High School

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 1670^th of 1857 High schools	Ranks 1700^th of 1961 High schools	3.2%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
End of Course Biology (South Palm Gardens High School)	13	11	2%
End of Course Biology (Weslaco Independent School District (Isd))	59	42	17%
End of Course Biology (Texas)	63	57	6%
End of Course English I Reading (South Palm Gardens High School)	11	0	11%
End of Course English I Reading (Weslaco Independent School District (Isd))	41	45	4%
End of Course English I Reading (Texas)	49	54	5%
End of Course English II Reading (South Palm Gardens High School)	0	8	8%
End of Course English II Reading (Weslaco Independent School District (Isd))	40	42	2%
End of Course English II Reading (Texas)	51	56	5%
End of Course U.S. History (South Palm Gardens High School)	55	57	2%
End of Course U.S. History (Weslaco Independent School District (Isd))	54	64	10%
End of Course U.S. History (Texas)	75	71	4%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	76	65	14.5%
African American	0	0
American Indian	0	0
Asian	0	0
Hispanic	76	65	14.5%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	0	0
Two or More Races	0	0
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	96.1%	92.3%	3.7%

Schools Near South Palm Gardens High School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				STAAR EOC Algebra I (2024)	STAAR EOC Biology (2024)	STAAR EOC English I Reading (2024)	STAAR EOC English II Reading (2024)	STAAR EOC U.S. History (2024)	STAAR Reading (2024)			STAAR Mathematics (2024)		STAAR Science (2024)	STAAR Social Studies (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2021)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	STAAR EOC Algebra I End of Course	STAAR EOC Biology End of Course	STAAR EOC English I Reading End of Course	STAAR EOC English II Reading End of Course	STAAR EOC U.S. History End of Course	STAAR Reading 6th Grade	STAAR Reading 7th Grade	STAAR Reading 8th Grade	STAAR Mathematics 6th Grade	STAAR Mathematics 7th Grade	STAAR Science 8th Grade	STAAR Social Studies 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
South Palm Gardens High School	Public	10-12	2607 Camino Real Viejo	Mercedes	78570	Hidalgo County	Weslaco Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	No	(956) 565-0404	66	6	11.7	89.4%	1 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	65 (98.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)		16.7		50.0	70.6								$19,724	$691	$19,033
South Texas Independent School District (Isd) Health Professions	Public, Magnet	9-12	700 Med High Dr	Mercedes	78570	Hidalgo County	South Texas Independent School District (Isd)	No	Yes	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 565-2237	797	56	14.2	66.1%	40 (5.0%)	9 (1.1%)	672 (84.3%)	70 (8.8%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.5%)	82.9	168^th of 1987 public high schools	91.5%		86.1	108^th of 1961 public high schools	94.5%	60	40.6	76.2	87.1	89.4	78.3								$14,511	$1,555	$12,956
South Texas Independent School District (Isd) Science Academy	Public, Magnet	9-12	900 Med High Dr	Mercedes	78570	Hidalgo County	South Texas Independent School District (Isd)	No	Yes	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 565-4620	846	56	15.1	50.5%	73 (8.6%)	13 (1.5%)	698 (82.5%)	56 (6.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (0.7%)	91.2	42^nd of 1987 public high schools	97.9%		88.7	72^nd of 1961 public high schools	96.3%	30	72.4	89.1	89.2	93.8	92.0								$12,985	$1,090	$11,895
Weslaco East High School	Public	9-12	810 S Pleasantview Dr	Weslaco	78596	Hidalgo County	Weslaco Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 969-6950	2,122	149	14.2	82.9%	11 (0.5%)	5 (0.2%)	2,105 (99.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	23.9	1549^th of 1987 public high schools	22.0%		24.8	1498^th of 1961 public high schools	23.6%	51	31.8	31.3	32.2	43.9	58.2								$11,555	$1,267	$10,288
Premier H S Of Weslaco	Public, Charter	9-12	2419 Haggar Ave	Weslaco	78596	Hidalgo County	Premier High Schools	Yes	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 781-8800	146	6	25.7	93.8%	1 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	145 (99.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18.9	1638^th of 1987 public high schools	17.6%		18.6	1616^th of 1961 public high schools	17.6%	22	27.3	20.0	11.8	34.6	56.8								$7,684	$1,222	$6,462
Mercedes Early College Academy	Public	9-12	950 W 6th St	Mercedes	78570	Hidalgo County	Mercedes Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 514-5180	349	22	15.7	81.7%	4 (1.1%)	1 (0.3%)	343 (98.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	56.4	779^th of 1987 public high schools	60.8%		66.4	523^rd of 1961 public high schools	73.3%	256	22.4	59.0	41.8	86.0	76.2								$8,069	$2,461	$5,608
Idea Weslaco Pike College Preparatory	Public, Charter	6-12	1000 E Pike Blvd	Weslaco	78596	Hidalgo County	Idea Public Schools	Yes	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 351-4850	749	49	15.4	83.8%	15 (2.0%)	1 (0.1%)	729 (97.3%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	64.5	566^th of 1987 public high schools	71.5%		66.5	518^th of 1961 public high schools	73.6%	48	39.3	75.3	74.7	84.2	68.2	57.6	59.2	63.6	39.5	47.5	35.5	42.7	$11,893	$1,698	$10,195
Triumph Public High Schools-Mercedes	Public, Charter	9-12	103 E 2nd St	Mercedes	78570	Hidalgo County	Triumph Public High Schools-Rio Grande Valley	Yes	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 565-5417	101	5	19.3		0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	101 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5.8	1869^th of 1987 public high schools	5.9%		5.1	1849^th of 1961 public high schools	5.7%	20	14.3	20.5	17.1	15.5	24.2								$9,598	$2,481	$7,117
Mercedes High School	Public	8-12	1200 S Florida	Mercedes	78570	Hidalgo County	Mercedes Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 514-2100	895	69	12.9	91.3%	10 (1.1%)	3 (0.3%)	877 (98.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	3 (0.3%)	9.2	1803^rd of 1987 public high schools	9.3%		9.4	1762^nd of 1961 public high schools	10.1%	41	5.1	25.1	14.6	28.9	43.6								$13,860	$3,250	$10,610
Idea College Prep Weslaco	Public, Charter	6-12	2931 E Sugar Cane Dr	Weslaco	78599	Hidalgo County	Idea Public Schools	Yes	No	(n/a)	Yes	(956) 351-4100	756	44	17.1	84.3%	23 (3.0%)	1 (0.1%)	729 (96.4%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	45.7	1036^th of 1987 public high schools	47.9%		61.8	642^nd of 1961 public high schools	67.3%	394	15.8	42.3	66.4	80.0	66.7	40.0	53.2	48.7	24.2	35.0		15.5	$10,278	$1,815	$8,463

Frequently Asked Questions about South Palm Gardens High School

How many students attend South Palm Gardens High School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 66 students attended South Palm Gardens High School.

What district is South Palm Gardens High School in?

Weslaco Independent School District (Isd)

What is the racial makeup of South Palm Gardens High School?

Students at South Palm Gardens High School are 98% Hispanic, 2% White.

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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.