Harlingen is consider a poor district and falls into the Robin Hood act where money from rich districts are allotted to poor districts. As of 2008 funds per student was roughly $9000 for that district. There has been growth in the area and I know UT of San Antonio open a medical branch for the students to finish out their residency in the area, but I'm not sure about gifted programs and given the poor district status one has to wonder if they are more focused on high risk students and meeting the test standards. In the state of Texas gifted programs are left up to the district. The best thing your friend can do is call the district and talk to them. Though there isn't a web link for the gifted and talented program if your friend searches their website she will find mention of it but it is generic info at the most. They claim to have a program but for what levels and what they provide they make no mention, other than to contact the principal or counselor of the school he/she will attend.

As for percentage of PG kids in that area; I'm going to guess not many. I live in the metro area of Austin which is a university town and though we have a high number of gifted children in our area, there still is minimal PG kids.