Pharr-San Juan-Alamo High School
| PSJA High School | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Address | |
 | |
805 West Ridge Road , | |
| Information | |
| Type | Public |
| Established | 1919 |
| School district | Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District |
| Principal | Corina Ramirez |
| Grades | 9-12 |
| Color(s) | Maroon & White |
| Mascot | Bear |
| Website | PSJA High School |
Pharr-San Juan-Alamo (PSJA) High School is a public school in San Juan, Texas (USA). It is part of the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District and is one of the district's four high schools. It educates over 2,500 students. The school colors are maroon and white and the school mascot is a bear.
Student demographics
As of the 2007-2008 school year, PSJA High had a total of 2,528 students (98.7% Hispanic, 1.1% White, 0.1% African American, and less than 0.1% Native American). 90.6% of the students are considered economically disadvantaged.
Accountability rating
Based on the accountability ratings released by the Texas Education Agency on August 1, 2007, PSJA High is currently rated "Academically Acceptable". The school has received a TEA Recognized Campus status as of 2008.
Sports and other activities
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PSJA High School is the original high school of PSJA. The mascot is a bear and they are known for having strong football and baseball teams. PSJA High is one of two schools from the Rio Grande Valley to ever make it to the state finals, and the only school to ever make it twice and back to back in 1962 and 1963. Home football games are played at the historical PSJA stadium located about a mile from the school. The school also has a competitive UIL Math team. The Math team is back-to-back State Champions in 2009-2010, and has also won State numerous times before. Let us not forget to mention their active involvment in Destination Imagination where they have sent two teams to global finals on various occasions.
Alma Mater and Fight Song
On, On, PSJA, a tribute you stand.
To service rendered, knowledge tendered,
A benediction planned.
Within thy walls our dreams have grown
And seeds of many friendships sown
Victories and defeats we've known.
Our heritage, our school!
(cheered) Rah, Rah, Bears!
The tune to the "Notre Dame Victory March," is used for the PSJA High Fight Song.
Loyal sons of PSJA, loud the echo cheering her name,
Send a royal cheer on high,
Shake down the thunder from the sky.
Though the odds be great or small,
PSJA will win over all,
As our loyal sons go marching onward to victory!
P! - S! - J! - A!
(repeat first stanza)
(cheered) Go, Bears, Let's Go!
Over the years, some classes have confused the lyrics, changing "Send a royal cheer" to "Send a Valley cheer" or "Send a loyal cheer." The lyrics above are from the PSJA Teacher Handbook.
PSJA in the News
In 2007, the FBI raided school board offices and issued 22 counts of conspiracy and extortion amid allegations that several members of the board received sex, paid vacations, monetary gifts, repairs to their homes, clothing, rifles, and sports tickets in exchange for repeatedly handing valuable school contracts to area construction firms, some of whom also had charges levied against them.[1] Pharr-San Juan-Alamo school board member Rogelio "Little Roy" Rodriguez resigned his seat on the board, before pleading guilty to a federal conspiracy charge.[2]
In May 2010, Gov. Rick Perry visited PSJA High and announced PSJA ISD had been awarded a $2 million All Students: College Ready, College Connected grant through the Texas Education Agency. Perry said, “The Pharr-San Juan-Alamo school district is part of a larger effort across the state to continue improving the quality of a Texas education and ensure every student graduates ready for college or career.” The school district will receive $1.1 million for the first year of the grant, with $2 million total awarded over the next two years, allowing the district to expand its successful early college high school program to the entire district, while combining it with a focused STEM education. Through this grant, more than 60 percent of the 8,000 PSJA ISD high school students will experience college-for-all accelerated programs by the 2013-2014 school year, and at least 30 percent of the 1,600 middle school students will be in accelerated programs.[3]
Sports
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Football
- Golf
- Soccer
- Solfball
- Powerlifting
- Tennis
- Track
- Volleyball
- Wrestling
Football
The PSJA High Bears are known for their strong football team in District 31-5A. The PSJA Bears played two state championships in 1962 and 1963 but lost. They are the only valley team to make it to state back to back, and the only 31-5A school to ever make it to state. They are known also for their strong school pride , thier rival school is PSJA North. Both schools face - off during week 10 before the playoffs.
See also
References
- ^ "FBI: Officials got cash, sex and tickets for contract votes". The Monitor. 2007-06-05.
- ^ "Embattled PSJA board member pleads guilty". The Monitor. 2007-12-12.
- ^ "Gov. Perry Announces $2 Million Grant to Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD to Expand Early College Program". Office of the Governor of Texas. 2010-05-13.
External links