South Texas Independent School District

South Texas Independent School District (STISD) is a magnet school district headquartered in Mercedes, Texas (USA).^[2] 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 students an educational alternative. STISD schools provide hands-on training in various professional career fields.

Because it is a magnet school district, there is no cost for students to attend, and bus transportation is also free of charge. STISD schools maintain an open enrollment policy, meaning any student 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.

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 Preparatory 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.

Student body

For the 2014-2015 school year the district reported a total enrollment of 3,394^[3]

• 82.14% were Hispanic
• 10.49% were Asian American
• 5.36% were White American
• 1.06% were African American
• 0.06% were Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
• 0.03% were American Indian or Alaskan Native
• 52.39% were Female
• 47.61% were Male

Coverage area

STISD is a tri-county magnet school district that covers Cameron, Hidalgo and Willacy counties. STISD covers an area of 3,643 square miles (9,440 km²), overlapping 28 other school districts.

CATE Half-Day Programs

The Half-Day Career & Technology Program began in August 1996. Through the program, students with special needs can take the majority of their academic classes at their home high schools and take career and technology classes at STISD high schools. The purpose of the Half-Day Career & Technology Program is to teach students in a real work environment so they gain a marketable edge in the workforce.

Each school offers at least one program:^[4]

• BETA: Technology;
• Med High: Nursing Assistant;
• Medical Academy: Culinary Arts; and
• Sci Tech: Automotive Technology, Construction Management, and Welding.

Academic achievement

Until 2012 a school district in Texas could receive one of four possible rankings from the Texas Education Agency: Exemplary (the highest possible ranking), Recognized, Academically Acceptable, and Academically Unacceptable (the lowest possible ranking).

Starting in 2013 the Texas Education Agency released a new accountability scale. A school district in Texas can receive one of three possible rankings from the Texas Education Agency: Met Standard (the highest possible ranking), Met Alternative Standard, and Met Alternative Standard (the lowest possible ranking).

Historical district TEA accountability ratings^[5]

• 2014: Met Standard
• 2013: Met Standard
• 2012: No state accountability ratings were assigned in 2012.
• 2011: Exemplary
• 2010: Exemplary
• 2009: Exemplary
• 2008: Recognized
• 2007: Recognized
• 2006: Recognized
• 2005: Recognized
• 2004: Recognized

STISD Education Foundation

The purpose of the STISD Education Foundation is to raise, manage and invest funds for the benefit of South Texas Independent School District students.

Schools

References

External links

• South Texas Independent School District