SOUTH TEXAS ISD SCIENCE ACADEMY

scitech.stisd.net

795 Students

High School 9th - 12th

School Overview

The Science Academy of South Texas (SciTech), located in Mercedes, Texas, is a prestigious magnet high school that serves as a cornerstone of the South Texas Independent School District (STISD). Renowned for its rigorous academic environment, the school focuses heavily on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). It is consistently ranked among the best high schools in the nation, drawing students from across the Rio Grande Valley who are seeking a challenging curriculum that integrates advanced technical training with traditional college-preparatory coursework.

Beyond its strong academic reputation, the Science Academy is recognized for its unique "hands-on" approach to learning. Students at the school often engage in specialized career tracks—such as architecture, computer science, engineering, or biomedical science—that allow them to gain professional-level experience before graduation. With its commitment to high standards and innovative instruction, the Academy serves as a launchpad for students pursuing competitive university programs and careers in high-tech industries.

795

Total Students

59.2

Full-Time Teachers

13.4

Student/Teacher Ratio

57.9%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for SOUTH TEXAS ISD SCIENCE ACADEMY
Demographic	Student Count
White	60
Hispanic	635
Black	14
Asian	75
Two or More	10
Pacific Islander	1

Hispanic
635 (79.9 %)
Asian
75 (9.4 %)
White
60 (7.5 %)
Black
14 (1.8 %)
Two or More
10 (1.3 %)
Pacific Islander
1 (0.1 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	High School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	N/A
Shared Time Status:	N/A
District:	SOUTH TEXAS ISD
Phone:	(956)565-4620
Website:	http://scitech.stisd.net
Grade Range:	9th - 12th
Total Students:	795
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	59.2
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	13.4
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes participating without using any Provision or the CEO
Qualified Free Lunch:	457
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	3

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Grade 9 245

Grade 10 197

Grade 11 187

Grade 12 166