schoolsbycounty

Cameron County Schools & Education

School Score

51/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

92.0%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

92.0%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 91.6%

Per-Pupil Spending

$6,876

National avg $13,239

State avg $7,498

School Score

51/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 56/100

State Score Position

#166

of 253 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Cameron County

Measured School Summary

Cameron County performs at an average level with a school score of 51/100 and a solid graduation rate of 92.0%.

Funding Context

At $6,876 per pupil, Cameron County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 9% below the Texas average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 0.4 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 8% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Cameron County before comparing districts

County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.

Local context that changes the interpretation

175 public schools and 9 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.

Overall screen

51/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #166 of 253 Texas counties with school score data.

Completion

92.0%

0.4 pts above the state average

Funding context

$6,876

$622 below the state average

School coverage

175

9 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Cameron County has 175 public schools across 9 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.

Verify local rules

Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.

Parent decision brief

What Cameron County school data means before you move

County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.

Large multi-district county

Cameron County has many school records across many districts. County averages are only the opening screen; neighborhood-level assignment and grade-band fit matter more here.

State position

#166

of 253 Texas counties with school score data. The county score is 5 points below the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.

K-12 continuity check

These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.

BROWNSVILLE ISD

Elementary to high school visible

37,898 students

Elementary 34Middle 10High 10Other 2

56 listed schools in this county slice.

HARLINGEN CISD

Elementary to high school visible

17,034 students

Elementary 17Middle 5High 5Other 4

31 listed schools in this county slice.

LOS FRESNOS CISD

Elementary to high school visible

10,565 students

Elementary 9Middle 3High 2Other 0

14 listed schools in this county slice.

SAN BENITO CISD

Elementary to high school visible

9,354 students

Elementary 12Middle 3High 4Other 4

23 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

BROWNSVILLE ISD is the largest listed district slice, with 56 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.

What the data cannot tell you

NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.

Questions to ask before choosing an address

Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Cameron County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Cameron County district systems?

What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?

Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?

Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?

Education Overview

About Schools in Cameron County, Texas

This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.

A Massive Urban Education Hub

Cameron County operates a sprawling network of 175 public schools serving nearly 100,000 students. The infrastructure is immense, featuring 94 elementary schools, 30 middle schools, and 39 high schools across nine districts. Charter schools are a significant presence here, with 26 campuses representing 14.9% of the total school inventory.

Brownsville ISD Leads a Multi-District System

Brownsville ISD is the regional giant, managing 56 schools and 37,898 students. Harlingen CISD and San Benito CISD also play major roles, together serving over 26,000 additional students. With 26 charter schools available, parents in Cameron County have some of the most diverse educational choices in South Texas.

Dynamic City and Suburban Campuses

The majority of schools—103 in total—are located in city settings, giving the county a vibrant, urban academic feel. Schools are often very large, with Los Fresnos High School leading the way at 3,272 students. Despite the urban focus, 30 rural schools ensure that families in outlying areas still have local access to education.

School Overview

Total Schools

175

in Cameron County

Reported Enrollment

98,091

175 schools reporting

School Districts

9

districts

Charter Schools

26

15% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary94
Middle30
High39
Other12

9 School Districts in Cameron County

BROWNSVILLE ISD

Guide
56 schools
37,898 students
Open district guide

HARLINGEN CISD

Guide
31 schools
17,034 students
Open district guide

LOS FRESNOS CISD

Guide
14 schools
10,565 students
Open district guide

SAN BENITO CISD

Guide
23 schools
9,354 students
Open district guide

LA FERIA ISD

7 schools
2,926 students

POINT ISABEL ISD

5 schools
1,930 students

RIO HONDO ISD

4 schools
1,622 students

SANTA ROSA ISD

3 schools
915 students

SANTA MARIA ISD

5 schools
567 students

175 Public Schools in Cameron County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 14 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Level

Showing 20 of 175 matching schools

LOS FRESNOS H S

LOS FRESNOS CISD

LOS FRESNOS, 78566 / Suburb: Midsize

Profile9–12High3,272 students

RIVERA EARLY COLLEGE H S

BROWNSVILLE ISD

BROWNSVILLE, 78521 / City: Midsize

Profile9–12High2,254 students

HANNA EARLY COLLEGE H S

BROWNSVILLE ISD

BROWNSVILLE, 78521 / City: Midsize

Profile9–12High2,246 students

VETERANS MEMORIAL EARLY COLLEGE H S

BROWNSVILLE ISD

BROWNSVILLE, 78520 / Rural: Fringe

Profile9–12High2,172 students

SAN BENITO H S

SAN BENITO CISD

SAN BENITO, 78586 / Suburb: Midsize

Profile10–12High2,012 students

HARLINGEN H S

HARLINGEN CISD

HARLINGEN, 78550 / City: Small

Profile9–12High1,942 students

LOPEZ EARLY COLLEGE H S

BROWNSVILLE ISD

BROWNSVILLE, 78521 / City: Midsize

Profile9–12High1,831 students

PORTER EARLY COLLEGE H S

BROWNSVILLE ISD

BROWNSVILLE, 78521 / City: Midsize

Profile9–12High1,814 students

PACE EARLY COLLEGE H S

BROWNSVILLE ISD

BROWNSVILLE, 78520 / City: Midsize

Profile9–12High1,788 students

HARLINGEN H S - SOUTH

HARLINGEN CISD

HARLINGEN, 78550 / City: Small

Profile9–12High1,571 students

DR ABRAHAM P CANO FRESHMAN ACADEMY

HARLINGEN CISD

HARLINGEN, 78550 / City: Small

Profile9Other1,188 students

STILLMAN MIDDLE

BROWNSVILLE ISD

BROWNSVILLE, 78521 / Rural: Fringe

Profile6–8Middle1,095 students

JUBILEE BROWNSVILLE

JUBILEE ACADEMIES

SAN ANTONIO, 78222 / City: Midsize

ProfilePK–12Charter1,010 students

FAULK MIDDLE

BROWNSVILLE ISD

BROWNSVILLE, 78521 / City: Midsize

Profile6–8Middle976 students

LA FERIA H S

LA FERIA ISD

LA FERIA, 78559 / Suburb: Midsize

Record8–12High909 students

MANZANO MIDDLE

BROWNSVILLE ISD

BROWNSVILLE, 78521 / City: Midsize

Record6–8Middle905 students

GARCIA MIDDLE

BROWNSVILLE ISD

BROWNSVILLE, 78521 / City: Midsize

Record6–8Middle893 students

BENAVIDES EL

BROWNSVILLE ISD

BROWNSVILLE, 78520 / City: Midsize

RecordPK–5Primary882 students

SOUTH TEXAS ISD MEDICAL PROFESSIONS

SOUTH TEXAS ISD

OLMITO, 78575 / Rural: Fringe

Record9–12High858 students

TREASURE HILLS EL

HARLINGEN CISD

HARLINGEN, 78550 / City: Small

RecordPK–5Primary858 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$6,876

State avg $7,498

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Cameron County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

View Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Texas counties have the highest graduation rates?
Moore County (98.5%), Rockwall County (98.5%), and Titus County (97.8%) currently lead Texas among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.
What is per-pupil spending like in Texas?
Across Texas counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $7,498. The highest current county values are Glasscock County ($12,819), Borden County ($12,654), and King County ($12,630). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.
How should I read the school score in Cameron County?
Cameron County has a school score of 51/100, which is a midrange measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.
What is the graduation rate in Cameron County?
The high school graduation rate in Cameron County is 92.0%, which is above the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.
How much does Cameron County spend per student?
Cameron County spends $6,876 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in Cameron County, Texas — FAQ

What does the school system look like in Cameron County, Texas?

Cameron County operates a sprawling network of 175 public schools serving nearly 100,000 students. The infrastructure is immense, featuring 94 elementary schools, 30 middle schools, and 39 high schools across nine districts. Charter schools are a significant presence here, with 26 campuses representing 14.9% of the total school inventory.

What are the major school districts in Cameron County, Texas?

Brownsville ISD is the regional giant, managing 56 schools and 37,898 students. Harlingen CISD and San Benito CISD also play major roles, together serving over 26,000 additional students. With 26 charter schools available, parents in Cameron County have some of the most diverse educational choices in South Texas.

What is the school experience like in Cameron County?

The majority of schools—103 in total—are located in city settings, giving the county a vibrant, urban academic feel. Schools are often very large, with Los Fresnos High School leading the way at 3,272 students. Despite the urban focus, 30 rural schools ensure that families in outlying areas still have local access to education.

Counties with Similar School Profile

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Data Sources

Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.

Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.