Progreso ISD officially kicks off new early college program

PROGRESO — A parent and student orientation this past week marked the beginning of the Progreso Early College High School Academy.

Announced late last year, the school district received a $405,000 grant from the Texas Education Agency to provide students with access to college lessons, in addition to their high school curriculum, superintendent Fernando Castillo said.

Seventy incoming freshmen were selected to be part of the academy’s first class this fall. The students will be taught by a group of teachers in a separate part of the campus, Castillo said.

There, qualified teachers will be able to teach college lessons, along with their regular high school classes. Eventually, students will be able to enroll in classes at South Texas College in Weslaco.

By the time the students graduate from high school in 2011, they will have had the opportunity to earn up to 60 college credits, or an associate’s degree, Castillo said.

“We want a seamless transition from high school to college,” Castillo told the group of parents and students. “It’s a groundbreaking approach to do whatever it takes to make sure the students are successful.”

And after a new freshman class enters high school, a student-mentoring program will begin between the older and younger students, Castillo said. What makes the program special, Castillo said, is that the students may not necessarily be at the top of their class.

“It’s exciting since usually this type of opportunity goes to ‘top 10’ students," Castillo said. “These are average students who get a chance to do this.”

Valerie Limas and her mother, Norma, were intently listening at last week’s event.

“It’s really exciting,” Valerie. “I applied because I knew it was a great opportunity.”

Parents and students met the academy teachers at the morning event, and later were bussed to STC.

“It hit them when they showed up on the campus,” Castillo said.