Texas Border Business
PHARR, Texas – Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District’s academic success received a statewide spotlight this week when Texas Governor Greg Abbott highlighted PSJA ISD while discussing teacher effectiveness and student outcomes in Texas public schools.
The recognition comes following the release of the 2026 Texas A-F Accountability Ratings, where PSJA ISD earned an A rating with an overall score of 90.
During his remarks, Governor Abbott pointed to PSJA’s strong participation in the Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) and contrasted the district’s academic results with those of Austin ISD.
“In Pharr-San Juan-Alamo, they have more than 60% of the schools rated A. In Austin, by contrast, less than a quarter of their schools are rated A. In Pharr-San Juan-Alamo, they have zero F-rated schools. In fact, they have zero schools that are rated C, D, or F…” said Governor Abbott. “ So what does Pharr-San Juan-Alamo have that Austin ISD doesn’t have? Well, it’s not money. It’s not a wealthy community. What they have is a commitment to excellence.”
The Governor’s remarks reflect the results PSJA is seeing across the district. All 44 PSJA campuses earned an A or B, with 27 campuses earning an A, representing more than 60% of schools districtwide. Not a single PSJA campus received a C, D, or F.
Watch a video with Governor Abbott’s Visit to Pharr:
PSJA Among Texas’ Highest-Performing Large Districts
According to 2026 Accountability data released by the Texas Education Agency (TEA), PSJA ISD earned an overall score of 90 and an A rating. TEA released ratings for 1,202 Texas public school districts and 9,105 campuses on August 14, 2026.
Based on PSJA ISD’s analysis of TEA’s 2026 Accountability Ratings and district enrollment data, PSJA’s score places it tied for third among Texas public school districts serving 25,000 or more students:
- Frisco ISD – 91 (A)
- Prosper ISD – 91 (A)
- PSJA ISD – 90 (A)
- United ISD – 90 (A)
The same analysis places PSJA ISD and United ISD as the highest-rated Region One school districts serving more than 25,000 students, with both earning an A and overall score of 90.
PSJA achieved this distinction while serving over 29,000 students, with 94.4% identified as economically disadvantaged and 40.5% as emergent bilingual/English learner students.
Investing in PSJA Educators
Governor Abbott also highlighted PSJA’s participation in the Teacher Incentive Allotment, noting the district’s 82% participation rate and connecting investment in highly effective teachers with stronger student outcomes.
PSJA’s district data shows a record 82% of eligible PSJA teachers hold TIA designations, up from 72% the previous year.
The Governor further noted that although PSJA is significantly smaller than Austin ISD, PSJA ISD has more than 1,000 additional teachers participating in the Teacher Incentive Allotment.
Since the 2022-2023 school year, TIA has generated nearly $87 million in additional compensation for PSJA educators, with more than 340 PSJA teachers currently earning six-figure salaries.
“We appreciate seeing the work of our PSJA students and educators recognized on a statewide platform,” said PSJA ISD Superintendent Dr. Alejandro Elias. “Being among the highest-performing large districts in Texas while every one of our campuses earned an A or B reflects years of intentional work, high expectations, strong instruction and strategic investment in our educators. These results belong to our teachers, principals, staff, students, families, Board of Trustees and the entire PSJA community.”
Through its cradle-to-college pipeline, PSJA ISD continues to expand opportunities for all, ensuring every student has access to the programs, resources, and pathways needed to succeed from the earliest years through high school, college, and beyond.
