RGV Focus Annual Report 2024

2024 ANNUAL REPORT

RAICES FUERTES.

Futuro Floreciente.

STRONG ROOTS.

Flourishing Future.

Since 2012, RGV FOCUS has partnered with education, business, and community leaders to help Rio Grande Valley students receive the education they need to achieve meaningful careers and lives. This annual report reflects our belief that by nurturing our strong foundation and consistent progress and continuing to invest deeply in our students, we are building a future full of promise and opportunity. This annual report shares the latest data and stories from across our community, showing how collaboration and commitment are creating transformative change.

RGV FOCUS IS COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING EDUCATE TEXAS’ STATEWIDE 2025 STRATEGIC PLAN BY ACHIEVING TWO ESSENTIAL GOALS IN OUR REGION. Contributing to the Educate Texas statewide goal of 85,000 new post secondary degrees, credentials, and certificates by 2025.

Enabling schools to better attract, prepare, develop, and retain more high quality and diverse teachers to improve our state’s effective teaching workforce.

OUR MISSION Our mission is to transform college readiness, access, and success in the four counties of the Rio Grande Valley: Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy.

OUR VISION Our vision is for all RGV learners to achieve a degree or credential that leads to a meaningful career.

STORIES FROM OUR COMMUNITY Advancing Career Readiness: The RGV CAREER RPEP Initiative RGV FOCUS continues to elevate and encourage career readiness in the Rio Grande Valley by championing powerful partnerships that align education with workforce needs. Through the Rio Grande Valley Collaborative Alliance for Rural Education and Employment Resources (RGV CAREER) Regional Pathways to Excellence Partnership (RPEP) initiative, RGV FOCUS supported the launch of a bold new approach to Career and Technical Education (CTE) in rural communities.

In partnership with Region One Education Service Center, six rural school districts—Lasara ISD, Lyford CISD, San Perlita ISD, Monte Alto ISD, La Villa ISD, and Santa Rosa ISD—are expanding access to high-quality CTE pathways, including healthcare, law enforcement, education, and manufacturing. By pooling resources and collaborating with industry partners, these districts are increasing career options for students and building a skilled local workforce.

Passed in 2023, Texas House Bill 2209 (HB2209) created a framework for initiatives like RGV CAREER by funding regional partnerships based on student outcomes and workforce alignment. Educate Texas played a key role in the policy and advocacy efforts that helped shape and advance HB 2209 at the state level.

Through RGV FOCUS convenings, Educate Texas also helped raise awareness of the legislation across the RGV, ensuring that regional leaders could act quickly to leverage this new opportunity and launch a regional strategy rooted in collaboration and equity.

“Through RGV CAREER, Region One ESC is committed to creating a seamless integration between education and industry. By collaborating with local school districts, higher education institutions, and industry partners, we are developing career pathways that equip students with the skills and knowledge necessary for success in their chosen fields.”

– JOE GARZA Administrator for School Models & Collaboration, Region One ESC

With aligned policy, advocacy, and on-the-ground action, RGV CAREER is bridging the gap between classrooms and careers, preparing rural students for success while fueling economic growth throughout the Rio Grande Valley.

Advancing Student Achievement: Strategic Staffing and the Teacher Incentive Allotment in the RGV The Texas House Bill 3 (HB 3) Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) is transforming education across the Rio Grande Valley by recognizing and rewarding effective teachers. The TIA offers financial incentives based on educator performance and student outcomes. Since 2019, 35 RGV school districts have drawn down over $69 million with $47 million awarded during the 2023-24 academic year.

Beyond recognizing excellence, the TIA program plays a critical role in strategic staffing. Districts use TIA data to identify highneed campuses and place top educators where they can have the greatest impact. Many are also leveraging the framework to promote mentorship, pairing effective teachers with early-career educators to build capacity and collaboration.

In partnership with the Texas Impact Network (TIN) and consultant Dr. Socorro Espinoza, RGV FOCUS supported a Strategic Staffing Community of Practice and technical assistance for five RGV school districts through a 2024-25 planning pilot. During the planning year, districts audited master schedules, assessed student needs by campus and grade level, and reevaluated their staffing models to better support student growth.

“Through a powerful collaboration, Rio Grande City Grulla ISD joined fellow RGV districts in reimagining master schedules in high school, middle school, and elementary, as well as evaluating staffing models—putting student needs at the center of every decision. This planning year offered a valuable opportunity to reflect on our own practices and strengthen our commitment to strategic, student-centered staffing.” - Nydia I. Benitez, Director for Talent Management & Strategic Staffing, RGCGISD As RGV FOCUS continues to lead regional efforts to improve educational outcomes, TIA remains a powerful tool for retaining talent, closing opportunity gaps, and fueling long-term student success.

For additional stories and information, please visit: www.RGVFOCUS.org

CRADLE TO CAREER PATHWAY = RGV 2024 Average Meets or Exceeds the State 2024 Average 60,000

RGV 2023

RGV 2024

57,221

50,000

52,986

40,000

30,000 23,527 23,236

20,000

18,652

11,982 10,000

12,540

17,543

10,315

10,668 12,094

11,917

10,196

8,697

9,518

6,187

8,552 5,000

5,316

6,000 5,286

1,683

HIGHER ED. GRADUATES EMPLOYED/ENROLLED 2-YEAR

HIGHER ED. GRADUATES EMPLOYED/ENROLLED 4-YEAR

770

PUBLIC HIGHER ED. GRADUATION RATE 4-YEAR

1,000

35%

90%

80%

92%

78%

45%

89%

76%

0%

1%

_

1,589

KINDERGARTEN READY

STAAR 3RD GRADE READING

STAAR 8TH GRADE MATH

4-YEAR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATE

FAFSA COMPLETION

COLLEGE READY GRADUATES

AP/DUAL CREDIT COMPLETION

HIGHER ED. IMMEDIATE ENROLLMENT RATE

PUBLIC HIGHER ED. GRADUATION RATE 2-YEAR

712

47%

46%

47%

95%

75%

43%

54%

54%

32%

RGV BASELINE AVERAGE

–

31%

31%

87%

59%

_

32%

56%

17%

STATE 2024 AVERAGE

52%

46%

40%

90%

61%

48%

45%

48%

31%

COMPARED TO 2023 RGV AVG

5%

1%

3%

1%

3%

1%

2%

1%

4%

RGV 2024* AVERAGE

_

RGV BY T HE NUM BER S

For more information and data visit the expanded scorecard at www.EdTx.org.

1.4M

POPULATION

32 MEDIAN AGE

91% LATINO POPULATION

Only 17% of Hidalgo & Cameron County residents 25-34 years old are earning at least a $50K annual living wage.

In the RGV, 27% of the population lives below the poverty threshold, compared to 14% in the state.

27%

of RGV Latino residents live in poverty, compared to 14% in the state.

370,135

Public Pre-K-12 Students (95% Latino)

71,391 Public Higher Education Students (91% Latino)

OF RGV RESIDENTS 25 YEARS OLD & OLDER:

6% have associate degrees, compared to 8% in that age group in the state. 19% have bachelor’s degrees or higher, compared to 32% in that age group in the state.

43%

of RGV high school graduates are collegeready, compared to 48% in the state.

83% of RGV residents have internet access, compared to 90% in the state.

RGV teachers have an average 11 years of experience, compared to 11 years in the state.

90% of RGV teachers are Latino, compared to 30% in the state. 12% RGV turnover rate, compared to 19% in the state.

Expanding Career Readiness: The Rise of CTE and Industry-Based Certifications in RGV

rgv outpaces the state in ccmr funding draw-down

Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs and industry-based certifications (IBC) are equipping students across the Rio Grande Valley with skills for in-demand careers.

School districts have expanded access to CTE programs and significantly increased certification completion rates – opening clear, direct pathways to workforce success.

RGV FOCUS, in collaboration with Educate Texas and the Texas Impact Network (TIN), supports this work through the RGV College, Career, and Military Readiness (CCMR) Professional Learning Community, which offers data-driven insights and collaborative opportunities for leaders across the region to align strategies and share best practices.

Rural districts in the RGV - including Roma ISD, San Isidro ISD, Point Isabel ISD, and La Villa ISD - are leading the way, showing remarkable increases in IBC completion rates for their Class of 2023 vs Class of 2022 graduates. These gains reflect a strong regional commitment to ensuring all students—regardless of ZIP code—can access high-quality CTE opportunities.

rgv students graduating with credentials more than doubled since 2019

Districts are also leveraging House Bill 3 CCMR Outcomes Bonuses to sustain this growth, leading the state in drawing down these funds and reinvesting them in scalable programs that drive student success.

More RGV students are graduating with credentials that strengthen the regional workforce and contribute to a more competitive, future-ready economy in the RGV. Through the shared efforts of RGV FOCUS, Educate Texas, TIN, and committed local leaders, the RGV continues to model what’s possible when collaboration, data, and innovation come together to serve students.

ABOUT EDUCATE TEXAS & COMMUNITIES FOUNDATION OF TEXAS

OUR DESIGNATIONS AND NETWORKS

In 2012, Educate Texas and Communities Foundation of Texas (CFT) partnered with Valley-based leaders to establish RGV FOCUS. Educate Texas is proud to be an initiative of Communities Foundation of Texas and, together, we are building thriving communities and a thriving education system for all Texas students. As a trusted change agent in Texas education, Educate Texas works side by side with partners through programs and policies to empower students to realize their dreams and fuel a thriving Texas.

WITH HEARTFELT THANKS TO OUR FUNDERS WHO SUPPORT OUR WORK

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