Harlingen Schools Offer Top Quality Education

Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District strives to give its students the absolute finest education. In addition to Harlingen public schools, there are private schools that might be better suited for a child's needs. And once high school is complete, the Rio Grande Valley also has higher education institutions.

Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District

The goal of the HCISD is to provide an aligned curriculum that is relevant and challenging in a safe and secure learning environment with quality staff and administration. HCISD teachers have an average of 13 years of teaching experience. The District has an average expenditure per pupil of $6,907.

• 16 elementary campuses
• 5 middle school campuses
• 2 high schools
• 3 other campuses
• Enrollment for the 2006-2007 school year was 17,500
• Fully accredited by the Texas Education Agency (TEA).
• The TEA overall accountability rating of "academically acceptable."
• Of the 24 campuses ranked, 12 were "recognized" for excellence and the remaining 12 were ranked as "academically acceptable."
• Received TEA Gold Performance Acknowledgements for "Commended Performance: Writing" and "Recommended High School Program" for 2006-2007.
• Two campuses were ranked as top elementary schools in Texas by Texas Monthly Magazine.
• Harlingen High School was named as one of three College Board 2005 Inspiration Award winners in the nation.
• Two Harlingen Elementary School campuses made the Texas Business and Education Coalition Honor Roll for 2007.
• Texas Business and Education Coalition Honor Roll Schools have the highest percentage of students performing at the state's most rigorous standard commended in every subject.
• Dr. Rodriguez Elementary School is one of 25 teams from across the nation selected to partner as a NASA Explorer School team.
• Coakley Middle School chess team won first place in a national chess championship.
• Offers the Early College High School, where students can simultaneously earn a high school diploma and an Associate of Arts degree from Texas State Technical College.

• Harlingen CISD High School Graduation Rate 2003 - 2008

  School Year	Graduating Students	Total Students	Percentage Graduated
  2007-08	858	1,087	78%
  2006-07	880	1,122	78%
  2005-06	868	1,108	78%
  2004-05	845	1,061	80%
  2003-04	769	930	83%
  Total	4,220	5,308	80%

  Source: www.tea.state.tx.us/
• Harlingen Private Schools

  School	Number of Students	School Type	Grade Offered
  Calvary Christian School	395	Co-ed	PK-8
  Marine Military Academy	390	All boys	8-12
  St. Alban's Episcopal Day School	187	Co-ed	PK-6
  St. Anthony Catholic School	172	Co-ed	PK-7
  St. Paul Lutheran	210	Co-ed	PK-8
  Valley Baptist Academy	52	Co-ed	9-12

  Source: Private School Review
• Educational Attainment

  									Percent Change
  	1990 Census		2000 Census		2009 Estimate		2014 Projection		1990 to 2000	2009 to 2014
  Age 25+ Population	29,927		33,829		36,378		35,749		16.80%	-1.70%
  Grade K - 8	7,899	27.30%	5,523	16.40%	6,582	18.10%	6,442	18.00%	-30.10%	-2.10%
  Grade 9 - 12	4,038	14.00%	4,281	12.70%	3,371	9.30%	2,830	7.90%	6.00%	-16.10%
  High School Graduate	6,883	23.80%	7,745	22.90%	10,169	28.00%	9,867	27.60%	12.50%	-3.00%
  Some College, No Degree	4,704	16.30%	6,858	20.30%	7,121	19.60%	7,225	20.20%	45.80%	1.50%
  Associates Degree	1,187	4.10%	1,806	5.30%	2,472	6.80%	2,515	7.00%	52.10%	1.80%
  Bachelor's Degree	2,905	10.00%	3,678	10.90%	4,438	12.20%	4,569	12.80%	26.60%	2.90%
  Graduate Degreee	1,317	4.60%	1,944	5.80%	2,225	6.10%	2,301	6.40%	47.60%	3.40%
  Grades K - 12	11,937	41.27%	9,804	29.01%	9,953	27.36%	9,272	25.94%	-17.87%	-6.84%

  Source: DemographicsNow-2009 and 2014 Estimate; U.S. Census-1990-2000 Census
• Harlingen CISD High School Graduation Rate 2003 - 2007

  School Year	Graduating Students	Total Students	Percentage Graduated
  2006-07	880	1,122	78%
  2005-06	868	1,108	78%
  2004-05	845	1,061	80%
  2003-04	769	930	83%
  Total	3,362	4,221	80%

  Source: www.tea.state.tx.us/

Colleges, Universities in Rio Grande Valley

Texas State Technical College in Harlingen (TSTC)

• Ranked among the top colleges in the nation for associate degrees in all disciplines for Hispanic graduates by the 2007 Community College Week.
• Ranked the No. 1 college in associate's degrees in engineering-related technologies/technicians and computer and information sciences and support services.
• Enrollment of 5,496 students; an increase of 18 percent from the fall of 2006.
• Texas State Technical College Harlingen Workforce Development Department oversees non-credit special programs targeting workforce readiness and economic development. Workforce Development programs are funded through local, state, federal or private sources.
• Offers technical programs in Agriculture, Information Technology & Telecommunications, Engineering and Manufacturing, Health and Sciences, Business, Commerce and Service, Transportation and Aviation.
• Offers General Education courses to students that intend to transfer to another school.

TSTC Corporate College

• Is the Workforce Training division of TSTC.
• From September 2005 through August 2006, more than 6,000 trainees participated in TSTC Corporate College classes.
• Works with the local community, business and industry leaders to assist in the economic development of the Rio Grande Valley.
• Experience in developing customized and specialized training programs to meet the particular and specific needs of industry.
• Custom training curriculum has consisted of OSHA courses, precision manufacturing, blueprint reading, vocational mathematics and other business-specific coursework.
• Home to the Advance Manufacturing Integrated Systems Technology (AMIST) lab, providing industry training in hydraulics, pneumatics, electrical, mechanical and programmable logic controllers. AMIST is a partner with the U.S. Department of Labor-sponsored National Center for Integrated Systems Technology (NCIST).

The University of Texas at Brownsville/Texas Southmost College

• Located 25 miles southeast of Harlingen
• Has been a member of The University of Texas system since 1991.
• In cooperation with Texas Southmost College (TSC), the University serves more than 15,000 students.
• In partnership with TSC, UTB offers certificates, associate, baccalaureate and graduate degrees in liberal arts, the sciences and professional programs designed to meet student demand as well as regional, national and international needs.
• Advances economic and social development, enhances the quality of life, fosters respect for the environment, provides for personal enrichment and expands knowledge through programs of research, service, continuing education and training.
• Convenes the cultures of its community, fosters an appreciation of the unique heritage of the Lower Rio Grande Valley and encourages the development and application of bilingual abilities in its students.
• Bachelor of Arts programs are offered for 18 areas of study including Business, Management, Marketing and Related Supports, Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Engineering, Engineering Technologies Services, Health Professions, Security and Protective Services.
• Offers 21 graduate degrees including Master of Arts, Science, Education, Business and Nursing. UTB is in its 19th year of collaboration between University of Houston providing doctoral programs in education to the Rio Grande Valley.

The University of Texas Pan American

• Located 35 miles to the west of Harlingen.
• Total of 17,337 students coming from 28 states and more than 40 countries.
• Enrolls the highest number and highest percentage of Hispanics (86%) among Texas public universities.
• Of the total student population, 2,261 are graduate students participating in 48 graduate level programs.
• 10th largest university in the state
• 5th largest school in the UT System.
• Offers 54 bachelor's degree programs, 50 master's, 2 doctoral and 1 cooperative doctoral pharmacy program.