Mireles Elementary School

We have had a great experience with this school. They have amazing teachers, staff and support. Their interaction is great, they produce strong students. We have come to know many of the teachers, and they all strive to do so much and give so much to the kids. They are constantly looking for new and interesting activities. The whole school participates in events, such as decorating for Holidays, or the school festival. We will possible be moving soon and I really hope we can find a similar, loving place when we do.
—Submitted by a parent

Having been at Mireles since it opened in 2000 and been actively involved in the school I can say that I highly recommend it to anyone. The only critisizm I hear is that it can be too strict - I disagree - if the students behave well, as most of them do, then there is not a problem. The school sets high standards and that is reflected in the successes of the students. All Texas schools have to focus on TAKS scores and if the students are receiving the excellent attention they receive at Mireles then good results can only follow. Students considered "at risk" or those needing special help are given extra coaching by after school tutoring, and by parent volunteers. The parent involvement is high, families are encouraged into the school at various school and PTA events and the staff are always willing to discuss individual concerns.I cannot rate this school highly enough for organization, communication, dedication and professionalism of staff, personal attention to students and family /volunteer involvement. Mireles has one of the highest numbers of volunteer hours in CCISD and every teacher and volunteer genuinely cares about the success of the students.
—Submitted by a parent

I have two children who attend Mireles. My older child does well there. They do focus a LOT on passing the test but overall the teachers and staff are great. It seems a lot like a private school with the uniforms and all. My other child needs a lot of "extra help" with his work and I find that he is going to fall behind more because he's not really "test worthy". So I have to split the difference on the pro and con. It's tough.
—Submitted by a parent

We are new to the area and chose Mireles based on greatschools reviews. Once there, my two daughters are doing great. The school is beautiful and they have very nice materials & library. The PTA is very active and the principal and Vice-principal are always around the children - not back in their offices unaccessible. I think the boys seem to have a harder time with the rules, and I feel bad for them. Girls seem more able to sit and do work - but that is probably true most places. Academics is highly regarded - the cafeteria even has college banners up and the idea of going to college is already put into their minds. Overall, we are very pleased
—Submitted by a parent

The school is well cared for and most of the teachers and staff are friendly. However, I feel that this school really misses the mark when it comes down to the individual child. The goal of any school should be 'what is best for the child' and not what is most convenient. I know firsthand how ineffective the discipline chart is for kindergarteners at this school. Nearby schools that use the same type of discipline chart actually allow children to 'flip' their cards back if their day improves. The administrators at Mireles are blinded by their egos and refuse to see what is best for their students. I would not recommend this school to any parent wants to continue to inspire their child to be an independent thinker.
—Submitted by a parent

This is a very active school. The administration, teachers and parents are very involved! The rules are sometimes too strict and inconvenient for more flexible parents. They do try to maintain a high test and attendance average that is both a pro and a con. I sometimes wish they would be more concerned about the individual needs of the student body instead of over-focusing on school averages. However, all and all, it is a good school. I was reading about the over-crowding, and that has been taken care of last year (2007) when they opened Faye Webb, a new school...it is back to a healthy student/teacher ratio.
—Submitted by a parent

This school is only concerned with test scores. It is also known to be harsh with the kids and has poor communication with the parents. We are a military family and would not recommend this school.
—Submitted by a parent

Mireles Elementary is truly the best elementary school in Corpus Christi. The fine leadership of the principal, compassion and devotion of the teachers and outstanding parental involvement are a few aspects that make Mireles a great place to be. Look at our TAKS scores this year. They alone speak volumes!
—Submitted by a parent

We are very pleased with Mireles. Our daughter is in 5th grade and we love her teacher. It shows in her tests (She got 100% in the TAKS tests) and also for the first time she has shown interest in other extra-curricular activities.
—Submitted by a parent

best elementary school in Corpus - Truly committed teachers and staff who do whatever it takes to make sure no child is left behind!
—Submitted by a teacher

This is the perfect school for new comers to Kindergarten. They are very welcoming to children from out of state and very academically driven. As well as given the best information for us to make the best decision for our child.
—Submitted by a parent

This is a very nice public school, fairly overcrowded though, and unfortunately the Corpus Christi public school system did away with any advanced classes ('Ace') program a couple of years ago. The current principal and staff is excellent.
—Submitted by a parent

My son attended Mireles in the 1st and 2nd grades. The school really focuses on reading. It also rewards those students who achieve high academically. My son's teachers were great!
—Submitted by a parent

Overall, Mireles is an amazing school. Wonderful teachers, great principal, very active parent volunteers. The overcrowding is a problem and with new development all over the area, will probably become more so of a problem in the future. My son eats lunch at 1 pm, as they have no room in the cafeteria. Lunches begin at 10am and end after 1 pm, in order to accomadate all the students. I can not imagine what they are going to do in years to come. Academically, this is a great school, as proven by the test scores. The teachers and principal have very high expectations for these students, and the students achieve them. I would highly recommend this school.
—Submitted by a parent

There is a very peaceful and calm atmosphere at Mireles Elementary. Despite its large student population, the school is well organized and focuses on learning, school safety and parent involvement. It has a very large parent volunteer base and the administrators always welcome parent input and parent involvement. The teachers are dedicated and genuinely love their students. The school faces challenges daily from overcrowded parking to increased portable classroom usage. The staff, faculty and adminstrators have taken on these challenges and have found workable solutions to most of the problems they present. I would not hesitate to send my child to Mireles Elementary School.
—Submitted by a staff

Mireles Elementary has been ranked 'Exemplarary' since it opened its doors. I beleive that Ms. Alvarez's (the principal's) leadership has been key. She has been faced with many challenges throughout her tenure and has managed to overcome them all with no affect to the school's status. Ms. Alvarez is a great administrator. I would also like to comment about the great teachers at Mireles. The ratings would not be possible without their hard work and dedication.
—Submitted by R Gonzalez, a parent

Mireles Elementary started out as a great school, with what appeared to be genuine concern for each and every student, where family involvement was greatly encouraged. The barriers have been put in place to keep family involvement at a distance. The 'welcome feeling' is gone. Not from the teachers and staff, but from the principal and administrative staff. The vice-principal, Mr. Wolfe, makes you feel actually welcomed. He is very parent and student focused. Mireles benefits greatly through him. The overcrowding issues are a genuine concern. Not only parking, but fire and other emergencies that require evacuation. There isn't enough room for all the teachers to sit during a general assembly. There isn't enough room for the parents that come to eat lunch with their children to sit.
—Submitted by a parent