RGV Focus unveils its 2024 Annual Report Card

HARLINGEN, Texas RGV Focus unveiled its 2024 Annual Report Card at UT-Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine in Harlingen.

The report shows the Valley is leading the state in nine out of the 12 metrics RGV Focus tracks. 

The nine are: STAAR 3rd Grade Reading, STAAR 8th Grade Math, 4-Year High School Graduation Rate, FAFSA Completion, AP/Dual Credit Completion, Higher Education Immediate Enrollment Rate, Public Higher Education Graduation Rate 2-Year, Higher Education Graduates Employed/Enrolled 2-Year, and Higher Education Graduates Employed/Enrolled 4-Year.

The three where the Valley lags the state average are Kindergarten Ready, College Ready Graduates, and Public Higher Education Graduation Rate 4-Year.

Of the 12 metrics measured, the Valley showed improvements in 2024, as compared to 2023, in nine. The three areas where there was a dip were FAFSA Completion, Higher Education Graduates Employed/Enrolled 2-Year, and Higher Education Graduates Employed/Enrolled 4-Year.

RGV Focus is part of Educate Texas. It was started in 2012 to help Valley students receive the education they need to achieve meaningful careers and lives. The group does this through collaboration with its partners in eduction, business and community groups. 

Its mission is to “transform college readiness, access, and success in the four counties of the Rio Grande Valley: Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy.” Its vision is “for all RGV learners to achieve a degree or credential that leads to a meaningful career.”

The director of RGV Focus is Rebeca Lopez. In an exclusive interview with the Rio Grande Guardian, Lopez the annual report reflects the group’s belief that by nurturing a strong foundation and consistent progress, as well as continuing to invest deeply in the region’s students, RGV Focus is building a future full of promise and opportunity.

Lopez said the annual report shards the latest data and stories from across the community, showing how collaboration and commitment are creating transformative change.

Here is a video recording of the interview:

Story continued

Lopez added that RGV Focus is committed to supporting Educate Texas’ Statewide 2025 Strategic Plan by achieving two essential goals in the Valley. They are: 

1. Contributing to Educate Texas’ statewide goal of 85,000 new post secondary degrees, credentials and certificates by 2025. 
2. Enabling schools to better attract, prepare, develop, and retain more high quality and diverse teachers to improve our state’s effective teaching workforce. 

The post RGV Focus unveils its 2024 Annual Report Card appeared first on Rio Grande Guardian.