Mercedes Isd

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, the data changelog, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.

Mercedes, Texas - 10 schools

An equity score of 62/100 ranks Mercedes Isd #313 of 1047 districts in Texas (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $14,385 per pupil, Mercedes Isd ranks #459 of 1207 Texas districts by per-pupil spending (Texas districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

4,457
Total Enrollment
10
Schools
$14,385
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, Middle
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Mercedes Isd operates 10 public schools serving 4,457 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Texas. The school portfolio breaks down into 6 combined, 2 middle, 2 high schools, a compact enough portfolio that families can compare every campus directly before they move, rent, or enrol. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Hidalgo County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $14,385 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the upper half of 1207 Texas districts by per-pupil spending. See how Texas compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 13.0% local, 54.9% state, and 32.1% federal, a state-revenue-heavy mix that insulates the district somewhat from local property-tax volatility, though it ties funding to state budget cycles. The district's equity score is 62/100, ranked #313 of 1047 in Texas against a state average of 50, notably more even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 2 of 10 schools offering Advanced Placement (9 AP courses district-wide), a 314.6:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 41.9% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 98.1% Hispanic or Latino, 1.5% White, 0.1% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Sgt William G Harrell Middle, with a diversity index of 6.0/100.

Its largest campus is Mercedes H S, enrolling 903 students (21% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is Mercedes Academic Academy, at 100 students, a 9x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.

Mercedes H S accounts for 20.3% of all Mercedes Isd student enrollment

That concentration means Mercedes Isd-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the largest entity. Grade band: combined. The share measures enrollment concentration only; it does not establish how the district allocates programs, capital, or staff. Enrollment-weighted aggregates give this entity more weight than any smaller peer, while an unweighted entity average treats every record equally.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

Mercedes Isd school enrollment varies 9.0× across entities

Mercedes Isd school enrollment ranges from 100 students (lowest) to 903 students (highest), a spread of 803 students. That spread reflects typical mixed-portfolio variation between specialty programs and large neighbourhood schools. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

Mercedes Isd reports 88.9% free-lunch eligibility

The reported share is above 87.5%, so economic need is widespread across the measured student population. Title I operates under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015), but its statutory allocation uses additional LEA-level counts and rules not represented by this average. This percentage is an economic-need context measure; it does not establish a Title I award, show dollars received, or describe how funds are distributed among campuses.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

Mercedes Isd student-counselor ratio is 315:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Variation between sub-units within Mercedes Isd is typically wider than the Mercedes Isd-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Mercedes Isd chronic absenteeism rate is 41.9% — high (typically associated with higher-than-average disruption; recent CRDC data showed elevated rates persisting after pandemic-era schooling changes)

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

32.1%
Federal
54.9%
State
13.0%
Local

Funding Equity

62
Equity Score
313 / 1047
State Rank
50
State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 10 schools in Mercedes Isd.

White 1.5%
Hispanic or Latino 98.1%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 3.6/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Mercedes Isd's schools, below the Texas average of 44.7.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Sgt William G Harrell Middle 6.0
  2. 2 Ruben Hinojosa El 5.9
  3. 3 Travis El 5.7
  4. 4 Sgt Manuel Chacon Middle 4.9
  5. 5 Mercedes H S 4.5

Programs & Resources

2 / 10
Schools with AP
9 AP courses total
314.6:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
41.9%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Mercedes Isd

School Enrollment
Mercedes H S
903
Sgt Manuel Chacon Middle
518
Travis El
478
Ruben Hinojosa El
468
Taylor El
406
John F Kennedy El
399
Sgt William G Harrell Middle
390
Mercedes Early College Academy
355
Mercedes Early Literacy Program
189
Mercedes Academic Academy
100

How Mercedes Isd Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Texas districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Lindale Isd Similar size Lower spending More locally funded
Harmony Public Schools - Central Texas Similar size Lower spending Similar funding mix
Alice Isd Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
South Texas Isd Similar size Higher spending More locally funded
Edcouch-Elsa Isd Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to Mercedes Isd's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in Texas

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Houston Isd
189,934 students · 274 schools · $13,072/pupil
Compare vs Mercedes Isd →
Dallas Isd
141,169 students · 240 schools · $14,470/pupil
Compare vs Mercedes Isd →
Cypress-Fairbanks Isd
118,010 students · 91 schools · $10,693/pupil
Compare vs Mercedes Isd →
Northside Isd
102,719 students · 124 schools · $10,632/pupil
Compare vs Mercedes Isd →
Katy Isd
92,667 students · 74 schools · $11,284/pupil
Compare vs Mercedes Isd →

Nationwide districts with similar enrollment or spending

Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by per-pupil expenditure, not the same-state lists above.

Compare Mercedes Isd

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Houston Isd →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Mercedes Isd?

Mercedes Isd has 10 schools, including 6 combined, 2 middle, 2 high. Total enrollment is 4,457 students.

How much does Mercedes Isd spend per student?

Mercedes Isd spends $14,385 per student. The district has an equity score of 62/100, ranking #313 in Texas.

What is the demographic composition of Mercedes Isd?

Mercedes Isd students are 98.1% Hispanic or Latino, 1.5% White, 0.1% African American, 0.1% Asian, averaged across 10 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Mercedes Isd?

Mercedes Isd has an equity score of 62/100, ranking #313 out of 1047 districts in Texas.