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Douglass Elementary's Remarkable Rating Improvement Amid School Closures

El Paso Matters•Sunday, December 21, 2025 at 2:00 PM•Claudia Lorena Silva

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Frederick Douglass Elementary School in El Paso has made significant strides in its state accountability ratings, jumping from a D to a B in the latest Texas Education Agency report. This improvement is part of a broader trend within the El Paso Independent School District (EPISD), where 14 out of 49 elementary schools also saw two-letter grade increases. However, Douglass continues to face challenges, particularly in student achievement, where it has received an F for three consecutive years. Principal Michelle Sanchez Corral emphasizes the importance of addressing learning gaps and fostering community engagement to sustain this upward trend, especially as the school accommodates new students from recently closed campuses. The school aims for further improvements while focusing on creating a supportive environment for students and families.

Key Details: • Douglass Elementary improved its state rating from D to B for the 2025 school year. • 14 EPISD elementary schools saw a two-letter grade increase; Rusk and Zavala improved by three grades. • Douglass has received an F in student achievement for three years, with nine schools in EPISD facing the same issue. • Principal Corral aims to improve academic performance while welcoming new students from closed schools. • Community engagement efforts have increased parental involvement at Douglass Elementary.

education episd school-rating community-engagement student-achievement

People & Organizations

El Paso Independent School DistrictMichelle Sanchez CorralMaria SalasNellie GarciaFrederick Douglass Elementary SchoolZavala Elementary SchoolRuben Salazar ApartmentsTexas Education AgencyHoldsworth Center

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