Early College High School and Dr. Cano Freshman Academy were named to the 2018 U.S. News and World Report’s list of Best High Schools in the country.
“We are super proud of ECHS and Cano for earning bronze medals in Best High Schools U.S. News and World Report. Much work went into the planning of these campuses, and this is an example of getting it right,” said Superintendent Dr. Art Cavazos. “I want to thank all the teachers, students, and staff who are doing a phenomenal job. They are showing our state and nation what is possible.”
Seventy-seven ECHS seniors received their associate’s degrees even before receiving their high-school diploma this April. Also, as the school celebrates its tenth year, HCISD has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley that brings new opportunities for Harlingen students to take Dual Credit college courses on pathways designed to meet the University’s core requirements for a bachelor’s degree. HCISD students also will have the opportunity to take Dual Credit college courses at ECHS that lead to careers in education and engineering.
“We have had an entire decade of success at ECHS,” said Administrator for Organizational Development Veronica Kortan who served as principal when the campus opened in 2011. “I am really excited for the school and proud of the work they are doing.”
Since the opening of Cano Freshman Academy in fall of 2013, the percentage of graduation rates has gone up from the 88.3 percent to 91.6 percent according to an internal report by HCISD’s Office of Accountability and Assessment.
“This is truly is a celebration. All our hard work these past five years has paid off and will continue because we have the focus on ensuring that our next generations are successful,” said principle Vivian Bauer. “We can never be thankful enough to our students, teachers, support staff, and our district administration who were there every step of the way ensuring that this school would open correctly and that it continues to promote student success.”
U.S. News and World Report rates high schools based on four criteria: relative performance in reading and math state assessments, the percentage of underserved students and if they are performing better than the state average, if more than 80% of students are graduating in 4 years, and the percentage of students taking and passing AP exams.
ECHS’s data was analyzed utilizing all four criteria, while Dr. Cano’s data was analyzed utilizing only two of the four criteria.
