Texas Border Business
PHARR, Texas – Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District (PSJA ISD) continues to make district history, earning an A rating in the 2026 Texas Accountability Ratings, with all 44 PSJA ISD schools earning an A or B and a historic 27 schools earning an A.
The districtwide results demonstrate strong academic performance across PSJA ISD’s entire Cradle to College system, with more than 61% of all district schools earning an A rating. A total of 18 elementary schools earned A’s, four of the district’s eight middle schools earned A’s, and five of six high schools earned A’s. Many of the remaining campuses earned high B ratings of 88 or 89, demonstrating significant growth and placing them just one or two points away from an A.
“This is an incredible moment for our entire PSJA Family and a reflection of the caliber of education being provided across our schools,” said PSJA ISD Superintendent Dr. Alejandro Elias. “I want to thank our teachers, principals, paraprofessionals, counselors, instructional leaders, support staff, administrators, and every employee who contributes to the success of our students each day. I also want to thank our students, families, Board of Trustees, and community for believing in our schools. An A-rated district with 27 A-rated campuses does not happen because of one person or one program. It happens when an entire team works toward the same mission, and I could not be prouder of the PSJA Family for making this possible.”
The historic results reflect years of intentional work to strengthen instruction, invest in educators, expand opportunities, and align the district around a shared vision through PSJA ISD’s three-year Strategic Plan.
At the heart of that progress are PSJA ISD educators. A record 82% of eligible teachers have earned designations through the Texas Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA), recognizing highly effective instruction and creating pathways for designated educators to significantly increase their earning potential, including opportunities toward six-figure salaries. PSJA ISD also continues to prioritize competitive employee compensation, professional growth, leadership development, and teacher retention, recognizing that strong student outcomes begin with investing in the people serving students every day.
PSJA ISD also recognizes the support of the Texas Education Agency (TEA) through initiatives that complement the district’s focus on educator excellence and high-quality instruction. From the Teacher Incentive Allotment to PSJA ISD’s implementation of a districtwide blended learning model, the district has leveraged these opportunities to strengthen instruction, personalize learning, and build sustainable systems that support teachers and students across all campuses.
“We appreciate TEA’s continued investment in initiatives that give school districts opportunities to innovate and strengthen student outcomes,” Elias said. “At PSJA, we’ve worked intentionally to build systems around these opportunities that can be implemented districtwide. These results demonstrate what’s possible when strong state initiatives, exceptional educators, and a clear local vision work together.”
The district’s success also reflects its nationally recognized Cradle to College model, which begins building strong academic foundations for students as young as Pre-K 3 and continues through elementary, middle school, high school, college, and career.
The strength of PSJA ISD’s secondary results is especially notable, with five of the district’s six high schools earning A ratings. These results further reinforce the impact of PSJA ISD’s nationally recognized wall-to-wall Early College model, which ensures students at every comprehensive high school have access to college coursework and opportunities to earn college credentials while still in high school.
Through Early College High Schools, P-TECH pathways, dual credit programs, and partnerships with higher education and industry, PSJA ISD continues expanding pathways that prepare students for college, careers, and the workforce.
“When we talk about an A-rated district, we’re talking about much more than a letter grade,” Elias said. “We’re seeing strong foundations at the elementary level, significant growth in our middle schools, and exceptional outcomes at our high schools. That tells us our Cradle to College system is working and, more importantly, that our students are receiving a high-quality education at every stage of their journey.”
For PSJA ISD, the 2026 accountability results are both a historic achievement and a foundation for continued growth.
“Twenty-seven A-rated schools and every one of our 44 schools earning an A or B is something our entire community should celebrate,” Elias added. “But this is not the finish line. It is confirmation that the work is paying off. Now our responsibility is to build on this momentum, continue raising the standard, and ensure excellence reaches every student, in every classroom, at every school.”
PSJA ISD remains committed to building on these historic results through high-quality instruction, investments in exceptional educators, innovative college and career pathways, and its long-standing mission of providing opportunities for all.
