Clint Early College Academy, MacArthur and Hughey among Gold Ribbon Schools in El Paso
The Early College Academy in the Clint Independent School District was recognized as the top high school in the El Paso area, earning the Gold Ribbon from Children at Risk, a Texas research and advocacy nonprofit organization.
The organization analyzed public schools for the 2021-22 school year in several areas, such as student achievement on state standardized tests, test scores in schools with similar levels of poverty, State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness test improvement and college readiness.
The organization had a virtual news conference Monday to announce the top five high, middle and elementary schools in El Paso, along with the Top Gold Ribbon high, middle and elementary schools. Gold Ribbon schools are high performing schools with more than 75% of the student body being from economically disadvantaged families.
The Gold Ribbon middle schools: Gen. Douglas MacArthur Pre-K-8th Grade School (El Paso ISD) was number one, Bill Sybert (Socorro ISD) was number two, and Charles Middle School (EPISD) was number three. Gold Ribbon elementaries: Hughey Elementary (EPISD) was number one. The other four Gold Ribbon elementary schools are in the Ysleta ISD: Glen Cove Elementary was number two, Del Norte Heights Elementary was number three, Vista Hills was number four, and Ramona Elementary was number five.
In the high school category, Silva Health Magnet (EPISD) came in second, Transmountain Early College (EPISD) came in third, Valle Verde Early College (YISD) came in fourth, and Northwest Early College (Canutillo ISD) came in fifth.
Bob Sanborn, president and chief executive officer of Children at Risk, noted that the Early College Academy not only improved this year but also did better than many high schools that did not fare well during the pandemic.
Holly Garza, principal of the Early College Academy, said the school, first of all, is focused on students who are at-risk. She also believes that being a small campus allowed them to invite students back on campus during the pandemic.
"For those students that we realized were struggling, we were able to invite them back to campus. We had them socially distanced and they were able to get that instruction with the teacher in even a smaller group, which was very successful for us," she said.
She also credited her small faculty of 18 teachers.
"They work very hard to individualize learning for students and work to include mentorship for our students. I myself am mentoring 14 freshmen to make sure they have that desire to continue here at the campus," she said.
She added that she hired three teachers who were early college graduates and are from the community and that is making a difference.
Here are the top schools in the other categories.
Top middle schools in El Paso area
Eastwood Knolls International (YISD) was number one. It was followed by the Young Women's Leadership Academy at number two, Hornedo Middle School (EPISD) at number three, Harmony Science Academy at number four, and Idea Mesa Hills College Prep at number five.
Top elementary schools in El Paso area
Tippin Elementary (EPISD) was the number one elementary. North Star Elementary (YISD) was number two, John Drugan School (SISD) was number three, Lundy Elementary (EPISD) was number four, and Hughey Elementary (EPISD) was number five.
María Cortés González may be reached at 915-546-6150, mcortes@elpasotimes.com and @EPTMaria on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Clint academy, MacArthur, Hughey among Gold Ribbon Schools in El Paso
