Leaders United Change Lives

RGV FOCUS is a collective impact initiative created in collaboration with Educate Texas and Communities Foundation of Texas. Founded in 2012, our mission is to transform college readiness, access and success in the four counties of the Rio Grande Valley: Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr and Willacy. We have already achieved measurable improvements in educational outcomes across the region, and we look forward to a future when all Rio Grande Valley learners achieve a degree or credential that leads to a meaningful career.  

Our Leadership Team includes representatives from school districts, institutions of higher education, community-based organizations, and businesses. Working toward a shared vision, we align resources along the cradle-to-career educational pathway to improve outcomes for the 440,000 learners, including K-12 and higher education students. Results are measured along each step of the journey, from pre-K to higher education, and into the workforce. Our ultimate goal is to improve quality of life in the Rio Grande Valley – and education is the first step.

4 Counties. 1 Community.

The Rio Grande Valley (RGV) – Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr and Willacy counties – is home to more than 1.36 million people along the Texas-Mexico border. The RGV is young (median age of 30), Latino (92 percent), bilingual and bicultural. The region’s population continues to attract investments that have driven an economic transition from agriculture and tourism to health and professional services, education, advanced manufacturing, and retail. This shift is why educational attainment is crucial to a generation for whom earnings and job security are connected to a higher education degree or certificate.

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