Why Choose PSJA

National Blue Ribbon Schools 

• PSJA ISD has had seven elementary campuses designated with the prestigious National Blue Ribbon Schools by the US Department of Education: 
  • Raul Longoria Elementary, 1987
  • Napper Elementary, 1998-1999  
  • James Bowie Elementary now known as McKeever Elementary, 2009  
  • Cesar Chavez Elementary & Carmen Anaya Elementary, 2018 
  • Kelly-Pharr Elementary, 2020 
  • Farias Elementary, 2021  

International Baccalaureate (IB) Schools 

• PSJA ISD has three campuses in Pharr that have earned the rigorous International Baccalaureate designation from the International Baccalaureate Organization (IB). The International Baccalaureate (IB) is a global leader in international education—developing inquiring, knowledgeable, confident, and caring young people. Programs empower school-aged students to take ownership in their own learning and help them develop future-ready skills to make a difference and thrive in a world that changes fast. 

• Graciela Garcia Elementary in 2009 

• Berta Palacios Elementary in 2021 

• Liberty Middle School in 2013 

Best Communities for Music Education 
For over 10 years, PSJA ISD has been recognized among the Best Communities for Music Education from The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation for its outstanding commitment to music education.   

The Best Communities for Music Education designation is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement in efforts to provide music access and education to all students.    

Nationally recognized Early College Program 

• Through PSJA ISD’s nationally recognized Early College Program in partnership with South Texas College and other higher-education institutions, ALL PSJA ISD high school students can graduate with up to an Associate Degree or 60 college credit hours before their high school graduation free of cost. 

• All PSJA ISD high schools are designated Early College, which makes them innovative high schools that allow students to attend college and high school simultaneously. Early College High Schools offer rigorous instruction and provide academic, social and emotional support services to help students succeed. 

Dual Language Enrichment Program 

•  Pre-K – 12th grade students can develop the ability to fluently speak, read, write, and think critically in English and Spanish, which allows them to compete successfully in a global economy.  

• In addition to receiving rigorous instruction from Pre-Kinder through 12th grade, PSJA ISD students can graduate with a Bi-Literacy Seal on their high school diploma. This seal that officially certifies them as bilingual and biliterate is nationally recognized by employers and education institutions.  
   

Competitive Athletics & Award-Winning Fine Arts 

• Athletics 

• Football, Swimming, Diving, Water Polo, Powerlifting, Baseball/Softball, Volleyball, Golf, Wrestling, Track & Field, Soccer, Tennis, Basketball, Cross-Country 

• Each year, dozens of PSJA ISD athletes sign to play sports at the college/university level with scholarship offers! 

• Fine Arts 

• Band, Orchestra, Choir, Theatre, Dance, Mariachi, Jazz Band, Folklorico & Conjunto 

• PSJA ISD’s Music Education Program has received National Recognition for the last 9 consecutive years 

• PSJA ISD’s Theatre Programs at all 4 comprehensive high schools have been locally and nationally recognized in UIL One-Act Play, Texas Forensic Association, National Forensic Association and at the RGV Palm Awards 

• PSJA Mariachi groups have earned 1st Division Superior ratings at UIL Region Mariachi Contest & advanced to State 

• PSJA ISD high school musicians, representing band, choir and orchestra have earned the honor of being named to the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) All-State Ensembles

PSJA Pathways Toward Independence Program (PSJA PTI) & LIFE House 

• Pathways Toward Independence is an adult transition program for students with special needs age 18-21. The program focuses on developing students to their fullest potential addressing employability skills and independent functioning skills. An integral component of our program ensures students are prepared to enter the workforce and become contributing members of their community.  

• At PSJA ISD’s LIFE house, students with special needs gain functional independent living skills through hands on learning in a “real-world’ setting. 

High-Quality Curriculum 

Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD schools and departments are uniting to systemically adopt the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) during the 2023-2024 school year.

As part of these efforts, PSJA ISD will continue integrating the SDGs into its curriculum to equip students with pertinent real-world knowledge and hands-on experienceS crucial to help them compete at a global level. 
 
Integration of the SDGs into the curriculum includes instruction starting as early as Pre-K 3, where students may read "The Little Red Hen" and then go plant seeds in the school's garden and then reread the story when they water the sprouting plants. These efforts are in collaboration with SOL Education Learning Group. SOL provides an in-depth instructional method that embeds 21st-Century Proficiencies/global (17 SDGs) into the state curriculum (TEKS) through a 3-tiered project-based learning system. 

PSJA ISD implements ‘cross-pollination strategies,’ which may involve students learning about the Life Cycle through their Science curriculum and then making connections by going to the school's butterfly garden to witness caterpillars transform into butterflies. Then, through English Language Arts, students may be asked to develop their writing and grammar skills by writing an essay about their observations in the garden.