Donna Independent School District

Last updated

Donna Independent School District
Address
116 North 10th Street
Donna
, Texas , 78537
United States
District information
GradesPK–12 [1]
Schools21 [1]
NCES District ID 4817390 [1]
Students and staff
Students13,131 (2023–2024) [1]
Teachers901.19 (on an FTE basis) [1]
Student–teacher ratio14.57:1 [1]
Other information
Website www.donnaisd.net OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

Donna Independent School District (ISD) is a public school district based in Donna, Texas (USA). In addition to Donna, the district serves Scissors and South Alamo, and portions of Alamo, Midway North, and Midway South. [2]

Contents

Academics

In 2010, Donna ISD was rated "academically acceptable" by the Texas Education Agency. [3] Donna ISD's total enrollment for 2010 was 14,873 students according to the Texas Education Agency website. According to the Donna Independent School District website: "Angela Dominguez took the helm at Donna ISD in October of 2021, she became the first woman superintendent in the district's 100 plus year history."

The Texas Education Agency's college readiness performance data shows that only 2% (13 out of 656 students) of the graduates of the class of 2010 of the Donna school district met TEA's average performance criterion on SAT or ACT college admission tests. [4]

Recent history

On January 24, 2011, a federal judge in McAllen, Texas sentenced the former president of the board of trustees of Donna ISD, George Hernandez, to five months in prison, five months of house arrest, three years of probation, and a $3,000 fine for paying thousands of dollars in kickbacks to curry favors from the PSJA school board. Mr. Hernandez had previously pleaded guilty to the criminal charges. [5]

A federal jury awarded $1.2 million to a former superintendent of Donna ISD on November 13, 2009, for his illegal termination in 2001. Plaintiff's attorney Kevin O'Hanlon described the jury verdict as a message to school districts across Texas to abide by the law and not play politics. Donna ISD's lawyer, Eileen Leeds, had described the former superintendent's lawsuit as motivated by greed. The federal jury also awarded damages against the former attorneys of Donna ISD, Gustavo Acevedo and Jaime Munoz, requiring each to pay $87,750 to plaintiff Andres Martinez for violating his constitutional rights of due process. The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed the appeals filed by Acevedo and Munoz (case no. 10-40352) on May 24, 2010. [6]

In April 2006, the chief financial officer of Donna ISD filed complaints with FBI-McAllen, Texas Education Agency, and Department of Justice regarding widespread corruption, extortion, bribery, theft, and abuse of taxpayer money at Donna ISD. All agencies found his comments were not substantiated with factual data and his motivation was due to his upcoming termination. The Texas Education Agency investigated the complaints and issued its final investigative report in 2007. TEA found the CFO had incorrectly used federal funds. As a result of TEA's report, Donna ISD supt., Joe D. Gonzalez moved to terminate the CFO and worked with TEA to rectify the situation.

There were no findings against any school district employees. TEA praised supt., Joe D. Gonzalez, for his quick action and integrity to the Texas school financial system.

Schools

High schools (Grades 9-12)

Middle schools (Grades 6-8)

Elementary schools (Grades PK-5)

Additional schools

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Search for Public School Districts – District Detail for DONNA ISD". National Center for Education Statistics . Institute of Education Sciences . Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  2. ↑ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Hidalgo County, TX" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau . Retrieved December 14, 2022.
  3. ↑ "2010 Accountability Rating". Texas Education Agency. Archived from the original on November 14, 2011.
  4. ↑ "College admission testing class of 2010:District and campus supplement". Texas Education Agency. July 27, 2021.
  5. ↑ "PSJA Bribery Scandal". The Monitor, January 24, 2011, "More than 3 years later, sentences ranging from probation to prison time for players in PSJA school bribery scandal". Archived from the original on July 16, 2012.
  6. ↑ "Donna Pays $1.2 Million to Former Superintendent". The Monitor, November 13, 2009, "Jury awards $1.2 million to former Donna schools superintendent". Archived from the original on July 18, 2012.
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