Berta S Palacios Elementary

Summary:

Berta S Palacios Elementary is a public elementary school in Pharr, Texas, serving 551 students in grades PK-5 as part of the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District. The school has an overwhelmingly Hispanic student population, with over 99% of students identifying as Hispanic in recent years.

Berta S Palacios Elementary has seen fluctuating performance on the STAAR tests, with its statewide ranking declining from 1999 out of 4,320 Texas elementary schools in 2014-2015 to 1459 out of 4,675 in 2023-2024. The school's performance varies across different student subgroups, with female students and English Language Learners generally outperforming male students and Special Education students. Notably, Berta S Palacios Elementary has an extremely high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 98.19% to 98.96% over the past three school years.

When compared to nearby schools in the same district, such as Geraldine Palmer Elementary, Carmen Anaya Elementary, and Cesar Chavez Elementary, Berta S Palacios Elementary generally performs on par or slightly below these schools. However, schools in the neighboring Valley View Independent School District and Hidalgo Independent School District tend to outperform Berta S Palacios Elementary on STAAR tests, suggesting that the school could benefit from targeted interventions and support to improve student outcomes.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

 801 E Thomas Dr
       Pharr, TX  78577


(956) 354-2000

District: Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District (Isd)

SchoolDigger Rank:
1459th of 4,675 Texas Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $12,078 Help


Students who attend Berta S Palacios Elementary usually attend:

Middle:    Jaime Escalante Middle
High:    Psja Southwest Early College High School

Student/teacher ratio:  15.1 Help
Number of students:  495

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
99.2%
White:
0.8%

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  99.2% Help


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Performance Trends
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Compare Details Berta S Palacios Elementary ranks better than 68.8% of elementary schools in Texas. It also ranks 4th among 25 ranked elementary schools in the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District (Isd). (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 62.6. (See more...)
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: Hispanic (99.2%), White (0.8%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 99.2% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the highest percentage in the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District (Isd). (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Berta S Palacios Elementary is 15.1, which is the 6th best among 25 elementary schools in the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District (Isd). (See more...)
Help
Compare Berta S Palacios Elementary employs 32.6 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Berta S Palacios Elementary is $12,078, which is the 9th highest among 25 elementary schools in the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District (Isd).
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Berta S Palacios Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Berta S Palacios Elementary 1459th of 4675 Texas public elementary schools. (See Berta S Palacios 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:


Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District (Isd):

SchoolDigger ranks Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District (Isd) 460th of 968 Texas school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Berta S Palacios Elementary

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Rank History for all students at Berta S Palacios Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2015 56.07 1999th 4320 53.7%
2016 53.30 2139th 4286 50.1%
2017 35.79 2791st 4329 35.5%
2018 31.19 3117th 4359 28.5%
2019 48.50 2128th 4479 52.5%
2021 21.62 3736th 4578 18.4%
2022 40.48 2712th 4581 40.8%
2023 47.80 2313th 4647 50.2%
2024 62.60 1459th 4675 68.8%
See the entire list of Texas Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Berta S Palacios Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 39.78 2043rd 3226 36.7%
2019 53.70 1379th 3333 58.6%
2021 34.10 2423rd 3446 29.7%
2022 41.10 2166th 3487 37.9%
2023 53.59 1476th 3556 58.5%
2024 68.46 821st 3638 77.4%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Berta S Palacios Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 50.89 1364th 3558 61.7%
2019 29.97 2834th 3684 23.1%
2022 28.35 3145th 3952 20.4%
2023 41.39 2189th 4086 46.4%
2024 76.96 539th 4261 87.4%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Berta S Palacios Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 40.47 2665th 4264 37.5%
2019 62.94 1175th 4309 72.7%
2021 30.79 3330th 4451 25.2%
2022 50.76 2100th 4477 53.1%
2023 62.08 1387th 4521 69.3%
2024 80.63 443rd 4560 90.3%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Berta S Palacios Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 29.79 3261st 4306 24.3%
2019 59.63 1524th 4348 64.9%
2021 20.16 3874th 4499 13.9%
2022 33.77 3185th 4561 30.2%
2023 45.53 2448th 4588 46.6%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for At Risk students at Berta S Palacios Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 53.93 1696th 4240 60.0%
2019 70.44 776th 4295 81.9%
2021 36.49 2846th 4331 34.3%
2022 56.45 1645th 4461 63.1%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for At Risk Students!

Rank History for Male students at Berta S Palacios Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 37.86 2709th 4319 37.3%
2019 36.93 2861st 4357 34.3%
2021 25.64 3481st 4498 22.6%
2022 48.90 2235th 4563 51.0%
2023 49.46 2188th 4585 52.3%
See the entire list of Best Texas Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Berta S Palacios Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools TX State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 37.93 2716th 4168 34.8%
2019 55.89 1616th 4188 61.4%
2021 26.16 3501st 4329 19.1%
2022 46.54 2335th 4376 46.6%
2023 54.16 1812th 4401 58.8%
2024 74.07 755th 4431 83.0%
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.

Berta S Palacios Elementary Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 





Data source: Texas Education Agency

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)
100%

0%

0%

0%

0%

  

Reviews:
by a parent
Thursday, April 25, 2019

Open Quote staff is amazing! would recommend Close Quote



Enrollment information for Berta S Palacios Elementary

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
2014 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2015 2 0 0 522 0 0 0 0 524
2016 2 0 0 531 0 0 0 0 533
2017 5 0 0 570 0 0 0 0 575
2018 5 0 0 589 0 0 0 0 594
2019 5 0 0 598 0 0 0 0 603
2020 4 0 0 573 0 0 0 0 577
2021 2 0 0 576 0 0 0 0 578
2022 5 0 0 505 0 0 0 0 510
2023 5 0 0 546 0 0 0 0 551
2024 4 0 0 491 0 0 0 0 495

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 Berta S Palacios Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2014 0 0.0 n/a n/a
2015 524 30.0 17.4 98.1
2016 533 32.0 16.6 98.3
2017 575 34.9 16.4 95.8
2018 594 35.1 16.9 96.3
2019 603 37.0 16.2 98.2
2020 577 37.7 15.2 98.3
2021 578 37.3 15.4 99
2022 510 31.7 16.0 98.2
2023 551 31.5 17.4 98.2
2024 495 32.6 15.1 99.2

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 Berta S Palacios Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2014 0 0.0 n/a n/a
2015 524 30.0 17.4 98.1
2016 533 32.0 16.6 98.3
2017 575 34.9 16.4 95.8
2018 594 35.1 16.9 96.3
2019 603 37.0 16.2 98.2
2020 577 37.7 15.2 98.3
2021 578 37.3 15.4 99
2022 510 31.7 16.0 98.2
2023 551 31.5 17.4 98.2
2024 495 32.6 15.1 99.2

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 Berta S Palacios Elementary

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $815 (8.0%) $9,427 (92.0%) $10,243
2020 $791 (7.6%) $9,677 (92.4%) $10,468
2021 $2,430 (20.1%) $9,648 (79.9%) $12,078

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

Impact of COVID-19 on Berta S Palacios 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 2128th of 4479 Elementary schoolsRanks 2313th of 4647 Elementary schools
 2.3%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade Reading (Berta S Palacios Elementary)4855
 7%
   3rd Grade Reading (Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District (Isd))4446
 2%
   3rd Grade Reading (Texas)4450
 6%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Berta S Palacios Elementary)5541
 14%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District (Isd))5540
 15%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Texas)4843
 5%
3rd Grade Reading (Berta S Palacios Elementary)6026
 34%
   3rd Grade Reading (Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District (Isd))4525
 20%
   3rd Grade Reading (Texas)3926
 13%
4th Grade Reading (Berta S Palacios Elementary)3650
 14%
   4th Grade Reading (Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District (Isd))4845
 3%
   4th Grade Reading (Texas)4347
 4%
4th Grade Mathematics (Berta S Palacios Elementary)4264
 22%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District (Isd))4849
 1%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Texas)4647
 1%
4th Grade Reading (Berta S Palacios Elementary)3645
 9%
   4th Grade Reading (Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District (Isd))2937
 8%
   4th Grade Reading (Texas)2931
 2%
5th Grade Reading (Berta S Palacios Elementary)3944
 5%
   5th Grade Reading (Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District (Isd))4855
 7%
   5th Grade Reading (Texas)5156
 5%
5th Grade Mathematics (Berta S Palacios Elementary)5341
 12%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District (Isd))6149
 12%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Texas)5650
 6%
5th Grade Science (Berta S Palacios Elementary)4519
 26%
   5th Grade Science (Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District (Isd))5534
 21%
   5th Grade Science (Texas)4834
 14%
5th Grade Reading (Berta S Palacios Elementary)4727
 20%
   5th Grade Reading (Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District (Isd))5940
 19%
   5th Grade Reading (Texas)5333
 20%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students603551
 8.6%
African American00
American Indian00
Asian00
Hispanic598546
 8.7%
Pacific Islander00
White55
Two or More Races00
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients98.2%98.2%
 0%


Schools Near Berta S Palacios Elementary









Frequently Asked Questions about Berta S Palacios Elementary

In the 2023-24 school year, 495 students attended Berta S Palacios Elementary.

Students who attend Berta S Palacios Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Jaime Escalante Middle
High : Psja Southwest Early College High School

Berta S Palacios Elementary ranks 1459th of 4675 Texas elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Students at Berta S Palacios Elementary are 99% Hispanic.


Rate Berta S Palacios Elementary!



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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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