Preliminary results give Austin district officials hope for Reagan and Pearce

By Melissa B. Taboada | Monday, May 24, 2010, 09:44 PM

UPDATE:

Austin school district trustees approved future plans to revamp academics at Reagan High School and Pearce Middle School.

The repurposing plans of the two schools include starting an Early College High School at Reagan, in which students could get up to 60 hours of college credit that counts toward their high school graduation requirements, and an academy at Pearce to prepare students for the early college program.

Trustees are now discussing contingency plans for the schools, including which schools to send students in the event that the state decides to close either school. That decision could come during the June 7 school board meeting.

EARLIER:

Superintendent Meria Carstarphen announced at tonight’s Austin school board meeting that preliminary results from the state mandated tests make it “reasonable to conclude” that Reagan High School and Pearce Middle School will be rated academically acceptable.

Both schools face closure by the state after multiple years of failing to meet state academic, attendance and dropout standards.

“The preliminary data for those two schools are very strong and I am encouraged,” Carstarphen said.

Carstarphen made the announcement tonight minutes before the school board’s discussion on future plans to revamp the two schools.

Trustees were discussing late Monday night approval of the repurposing plans of the two schools that include starting an Early College High School at Reagan, in which students could get up to 60 hours of college credit that counts toward their high school graduation requirements, and an academy at Pearce to prepare students for the early college program.