Grants Help Students Prepare for Postsecondary Education

Three San Antonio Schools' high schools have received grants from the state of Texas to aid students in achieving their goals of attending college or university. The Texas High School Completion and Success Grants, totaling $200,000, were awarded to Edison Technical High School, Fox Technical High School and Navarro Academy. Each of these San Antonio Schools will use the funds in a way that will address the particular needs of its students.

Edison Technical High School plans to use the $80,000 grant to create and run the Saturday College Readiness Academy. This is an exciting and innovative program that will be jointly taught by Edison teachers and university professors. This will allow the students to get a feel for what is expected at the university level. The main goal of the Saturday College Readiness Academy is to raise the students ACT and SAT scores in order to better their chances at succeeding in the college admissions process.

San Antonio Schools' Fox Technical High School is using a portion of its $80,000 grant to implement SAT and ACT workshops that will help the students become ready to take the test. Fox Technical High School also plans to use the funds to help pay for students' exam fees. A teacher training for the college-preparatory Advancement Via Individual Determination program will be paid for with the remaining funds.

Navarro Academy, which received $30,000 in grant funds, is one of several San Antonio Schools that will establish an Advancement Via Individual Determination training sessions for its teachers. Navarro Academy plans to use the bulk of its grant to institute a transportation fund for before and after school tutoring and mentoring.

Even though each schools is allocating their funds to different services, they like all San Antonio Schools must improve their students' scores on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills. This program has set several important goals for all schools in Texas to increase the number of: 9th-graders graduating from high school in four years, students who graduate college-ready, as demonstrated through enrollment in a college-preparatory curriculum including Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and dual-credit courses, and students who take college-entrance exams.

San Antonio Schools Uses Funds to Build Three New Schools

Starting the 2006-2007 school year, students at Margil Elementary School, Crockett Elementary School and Douglas Academy will enjoy new facilities. Margil and Crockett Elementary Schools have moved to two brand new buildings while Douglass Academy has undergone a complete renovation of its existing facilities.

Margil Elementary, a San Antonio Schools elementary that was originally built in the early 1970's, has two newly designed features. The school's striking towers emulate the architecture of Avenida Guadalupe located nearby. The other feature unique to the school is its cafetorium, which is created by a retractable wall that when raised combines the gym and cafeteria.

Crockett Elementary School has moved into a new 104,945 sq. foot building centered on a beautiful courtyard. The newest features for the school will be an improved library, science laboratories, and larger classroom size. The school's air-conditioning system has also been updated and parts of the school that had previously not been air-conditioned now will be.

San Antonio Schools' Douglass Academy, a Texas Governor's Education Excellence Award winner, has received a needed renovation. The school's refurbishing has focused on the including the African-American and Mexican-American cultures of the neighborhood in its decorations and design. The added facilities include a new gym, computer lab, wireless connections, an intercom system and classrooms built specifically for the Early Childhood Program and Life Strides for special needs students.