South Texas Independent School District
| South Texas Independent School District | |
|---|---|
| — Public School District — | |
| Logo_by_itself.jpg | |
| Motto: Think Outside the Book! | |
| Website | http://www.stisd.net |
South Texas Independent School District (STISD) is a public school district headquartered in Mercedes, Texas (USA).[1] STISD operates magnet schools that draw students from three counties: Cameron, Hidalgo and Willacy. STISD covers an area of 3,643 square miles (9,440 km2), overlapping 28 other school districts.
The only all-magnet school district in the state, STISD offers Valley students with an educational alternative. STISD schools provide a personal environment, a strong scholastic program and hands-on training in various professional career fields.
Because it is a public school district, there is no cost for students to attend, and bus transportation is also free of charge. Best of all, STISD schools maintain an open enrollment policy, meaning any student with the desire to learn and work hard can attend so long as he or she resides within the tri-county area.
All schools are accredited by the Texas Education Agency and Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Over 95 percent of STISD graduates continue their education at major universities or technical colleges.
In 2009, the school district was rated "recognized" by the Texas Education Agency.[2]
Contents |
[edit] Mission
The mission of South Texas Independent School District, a public, open-enrollment magnet school district, is to nurture and develop life-long learners by providing challenging, focused educational experiences.[3]
[edit] Vision
The vision of South Texas Independent School District is to engage students in a focused, challenging curriculum within a small, caring community of learners.
[edit] History
The district was created in 1964 by the Texas legislature to provide education to disabled youth who were then excluded from public education. It was known as Rio Grande Rehabilitation District until 1973 and renamed South Texas Independent School District (STISD) in 1974.
STISD started as a residential school in Edinburg, named South Texas High School. To better accommodate the students of the lower Rio Grande Valley, STISD opened another school by the same name in Harlingen in 1967. In 1982, STISD moved the Harlingen school to a new facility in San Benito.
Lawmakers extended STISD’s purpose in 1983 to encourage the operation of vocational magnet schools. Soon after, South Texas High School for Health Professions (Med High) opened in Mercedes in 1984. It was followed by The Science Academy of South Texas (Sci Tech), also in Mercedes, in 1989.
In 1993, South Texas High School in Edinburg was redirected and reopened as The Teacher Academy of South Texas (Teacher Academy).
In 2003, Teacher Academy added business and technology programs and the school was renamed South Texas Business, Education & Technology Academy (BETA). That same year, South Texas High School in San Benito was redirected and reopened as South Texas Academy of Medical Technology (Med Tech).
In 2008, the junior high from South Texas Business, Education & Technology Academy (BETA) separated and opened as South Texas Prepratory Academy (STPA).
Though the district’s mission has evolved since 1964, STISD continues to provide educational and occupational training to students with special needs through the Half-Day Career & Technology Program offered at each school.
[edit] Schools
- South Texas Business Education & Technology Academy (BETA) (Edinburg)
- South Texas High School for Health Professions (Med High) (Mercedes)
- South Texas Academy of Medical Technology (Med Tech) (San Benito)
- The Science Academy of South Texas (Sci Tech) (Mercedes)
- South Texas Preparatory Academy (STPA) (Edinburg)
[edit] References
- ^ "Contact STISD." South Texas Independent School District. Retrieved on May 9, 2010.
- ^ "2009 Accountability Rating System". Texas Education Agency. http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/perfreport/account/2009/index.html.
- ^ "STISD - Mission". http://www.stisd.net/mission.html.
