Saved Schools

Mesita Elementary

Mesita Elementary, nominated by Transcend, is an elementary school in El Paso, Texas, that describes itself as a public district school serving learners from a primarily urban area.

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Location El Paso, Texas

Governance Public District School

Grades Elementary

Students 545

Locale Urban

Principal Laila Ferris

Demographics

Percentage of students*

41%

English Learners

55%

Free/Reduced Lunch

17%

Students with Disabilities

African American or Black 2%

American Indian/Alaska Native —

Asian 2%

Hawaiian or Pacific Islander —

Hispanic or Latino 86%

White 9%

2+ Races —

Why Mesita Elementary was nominated

This PK-5 elementary school aims to promote innovate educational experiences that focus on multicultural education and cultural awareness. To achieve this, Mesita Elementary implements positive behavior intervention and supports, focuses on social-emotional learning, and offers programming in digital citizenship and dual language. , This school creates a learning environment that is engaging, effective, and empowering for all students.

Student experience design

At Mesita Elementary School, the student experience is intentionally designed to nurture the whole child—academically, socially, and emotionally—through a strong foundation of relationships, belonging, and high expectations. A safe, inclusive environment where every student feels seen, valued, and connected A high-leverage Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) program that explicitly teaches self-awareness, self-management, responsible decision-making, and positive relationship skills A culture grounded in PBIS where positive behaviors are taught, modeled, and recognized A robust Dual Language program that promotes bilingualism, biliteracy, and high levels of academic achievement in both languages Intentional development of socio-cultural competence, empowering students to value diverse perspectives, build cross-cultural understanding, and engage as globally aware citizens Opportunities for students to develop voice, leadership, and ownership of their learning Collaborative classroom communities that foster empathy, respect, and teamwork across all grade levels Targeted supports through RTI to ensure each student’s academic and social-emotional needs are met Engaging, student-centered instruction that promotes critical thinking and real-world connections A shared commitment to community service, helping students grow as compassionate and responsible citizens At Mesita, students are not only learners—they are leaders, problem-solvers, and contributors to a supportive and thriving school community.

Core Practices

Core Practices Length of Use

Culturally Responsive Practices
5+ years

Dual Language Programming
5+ years

All Courses Designed For Inclusion
5+ years

SEL Integration School-wide
5+ years

Students Develop Projects
5+ years

All Practices

Adaptive Learning Software

Advancement On Mastery

Student Advisories

AI For Learning Materials

AI For Teacher Productivity

Assessments For Agency And Self-directed Learning

Assessments For Deeper Learning

Assessments For Social-emotional Skills

Career Exploration

Co-leadership

Family And Community Support Services

Competency/mastery-based Education

Disaggregated Data On Student Participation

Extended Learning Time

Flexible Staffing & Alternative Teaching Roles

Grading Policies Focus On Mastery

Interoperable Data From Multiple Technologies

Individual Learner Profiles

Individual Learning Paths

Mental Health Services

1:1 Mentoring

Multi-tiered System Of Support (MTSS) In Academics

Project-based Learning

Peer To Peer Support

Performance Based Assessment

High Quality Instructional Materials

Reallocation Of Resources For Students Most In Need

Restorative Practices

SEL Curriculum

Service Learning

Student-led Conferences

Students Access Their Own Data

Student-led Goal Setting

Trauma-informed Practices

Tutoring

Universal Design For Learning

key reasons for innovating

Improve student mental health

Increase student agency

Increase teacher agency

Date Updated: 4/1/2026

*Canopy profile data is self-reported or sourced from NCES data, then verified by school leaders.