• Category 2

    Selected in 2021

  • Grades: pre k - 5
    School Setting: urban
    Town Population: 14,647
    Student Enrollment: 430
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 0%
    White/Caucasian: 0%
    Hispanic: 100%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
    Asian: 0%
    Native American: 0%
    Other: 0%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:22
    % Reduced Lunch: 100%
    % ELL Learners: 93%
    Founded: 1990
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Oneida Zurita
  • CONTACT:
    1 south Fort Ringgold
    Rio Grande City, TX 78582
    956-487-3710
    ozurita110@rgccisd.org
John & Olive Hinojosa Elementary School
Rio Grande City, TX
We have successful students because we have dedicated teachers that believe in their students. The culture we have created here is where students, staff, and parents are PROUD TO BE a part of."
1. Tell us about your school’s success.
John and Olive Hinojosa Elementary strives to provide the best education to each and every one of our students. Our campus is 95% economically disadvantaged, 98% Bilingual Emergent Students, and has a 12% mobility rate. We pride ourselves on the many successes our campus has accomplished throughout the years.
High attendance rates
UIL accolades
2020-2022 TEA Purple Star Designation
2019 Project Fit America Grant Recipients ($25,000.00)
TEA “A” Accountability Rating
Cook Off Champs
2021-2022 HEB Texas Loves Teachers Tour Campus Winners
In Partnership with the Better Living for Texans-Starr County Texas Agrilife Extension
2020-2021 Gold Ribbon School
The Most Competitive staff
Positive School Culture
and our huge support in parental involvement events and activities
John and Olive Hinojosa have created an atmosphere where students, staff, and parents are proud to be part of.
2. Talk about the greatest contributing factor(s) that promoted positive change in your school.
Creating a positive change requires time, consistency, and willingness to serve. At John and Olive Hinojosa Elementary, building a safe and positive school environment that promotes learning are conditions that have been created throughout the years. Our culture grew around wanting to serve the community. There is a need to serve everywhere you look but the staff here separates themselves in the willingness and dedication when it comes to wanting to serve. Life’s hardships and events that our families go through do not distract them from ensuring their children get the most of the education we are providing. Our campus has many experienced teachers and our turnover rate is minimal to almost nonexistent. We established positive rapports with our community and parents that has allowed us to work together for the success of every student. When you walk into our campus, you are greeted by the friendliest staff and you always feel like part of the Red Diamond Family even when you leave.
3. How has ESEA funding supported the school's success?
Mathematics and Science are two subjects where ESEA funding supported our Campus.
With these funds we were able to purchase STAAR aligned consumable workbooks, along with its online component that the teachers in 3rd-5th grade was utilized as a supplemental material to the curriculum. The online component also allows our students to practice and simulate the online testing strategies the teachers are preparing our students to use during assessment. Having the funding to support the students' needs, has allowed us to better prepare our students for academic success.
4. What professional development activities were used to improve teaching and learning?
Our teachers are passionate about what they teach and committed to learning and broadening their knowledge on the subject they teach. Our teachers go above and beyond their required professional development at the district level, while mentoring our new teachers to help, collaborate , and build on campus success. When a new teacher comes on board, we assign a mentor teacher that guides, models, and plans alongside them to ensure fidelity with the campus vision and mission. This will increase the likelihood of success from the moment the teacher sets foot on the campus. Additionally, this campus has established a Campus Support Group beyond the professional aspect of an educator. The unity and camaraderie that these educators share, mentally and emotionally nourish each other. Here, they respectfully share ideas, plan, coordinate and work together for the same goal. The accomplishment of a task might begin as an informal gathering and most often ends up with a plan of action.
5. Talk about the cultural shift leading up to your school's success.
Colin Powel stated, “There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.”
At John and Olive Hinojosa we take PRIDE in everything we do. Everything is a Team effort, One grade level to the next. With hard work, persistence and commitment, the campus has shown that anything is possible. We have an “In It To Win It” and “We go to the race to win” attitude. We have successful students because we have dedicated teachers that believe in their students. The culture we have created here is where students, staff, and parents are PROUD TO BE a part of.
6. How has community involvement strengthened your success?
When John and Olive was built in 1990, this campus became the heart of this community. The neighborhood consisted of many families with low socio economic status and limited formal education. Our campus served the community many many years and offered our Spanish Speaking parents English Classes. The community grew with our campus and now those students are now our parents. Many staff members, including myself, now the Principal for John and Olive Hinojosa, are from this neighborhood. This campus is a community school where students walk to campus. We know all our parents, their relatives and families, and trust us to make the best decisions for their children’s success.
Stats
  • Category 2

    Selected in 2021

  • Grades: pre k - 5
    School Setting: urban
    Town Population: 14,647
    Student Enrollment: 430
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 0%
    White/Caucasian: 0%
    Hispanic: 100%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
    Asian: 0%
    Native American: 0%
    Other: 0%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:22
    % Reduced Lunch: 100%
    % ELL Learners: 93%
    Founded: 1990
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Oneida Zurita
  • CONTACT:
    1 south Fort Ringgold
    Rio Grande City, TX 78582
    956-487-3710
    ozurita110@rgccisd.org