Hundreds of PSJA ISD Seniors Named Prospective Candidates for STC Commencement Ceremony

District Continues Leading Region, State in Early College Graduates 

Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD (PSJA ISD) celebrated PSJA Early College Week from April 29 through May 3, 2024, districtwide. The week’s festivities wrapped up with 460 seniors being named prospective candidates for South Texas College’s Spring 2024 Commencement Ceremonies held Friday, May 3, 2024.

As part of the Early College Week festivities, PSJA ISD recognized the accomplishments of thousands of students who have graduated with Associate Degrees through the district’s nationally recognized Early College High School Program in partnership with South Texas College. 

Among the pioneers of Early College in the Rio Grande Valley, PSJA ISD is one of the only districts in the state and nation with a wall-to-wall Early College Program, ensuring its commitment to truly providing opportunities for all. During STC's Spring Commencement Ceremonies, 364 students were named prospective graduates for Associate Degrees and 96 for College Certificates.  

“Congratulations to our students and their families for this achievement," said PSJA Superintendent Dr. Alejandro Elias. "This week is very unique and special for our district as it demonstrates our commitment to educating and preparing our students for success in their careers and future through post-secondary opportunities that allow them to graduate with college hours without debt.”

During PSJA Early College Week, the College Readiness Department led festivities districtwide such as themed dress-up days, highlighted different programs, and hosted College Decision Days at all high schools, where PSJA ISD students officially declared their commitment to the college or university of their choice in the presence of their parents and loved ones. 

“PSJA ISD is leading the Region and State in graduating a higher number of high school students with Associate Degrees thanks to an ongoing collaboration with South Texas College,” said PSJA Superintendent Dr. Alejandro Elias. “Here at PSJA ISD, 'all' really means all, and through these opportunities, our students are graduating with a competitive edge, giving them two years of college or college certificates in high-demand, high-wage fields, helping meet today’s workforce demand.” 

At PSJA ISD, students can choose from over 12 career pathways and more than 25 specialized programs to get a jumpstart in their careers and future. For a cohort approach, students can be part of the district’s PSJA Academies, which take it a step further by providing a cohort-level approach to completing industry-level certificates parallel to college certificates or up to an Associate Degree prior to high school graduation. 

According to district data, the number of PSJA Early College graduates continues to increase each year. For the 2023-2024 school year, a total of 587 seniors were named prospective graduates for South Texas College’s Fall and Spring Commencement Ceremonies. Of these, 445 were for Associate Degrees and 142 for College Certificates. 

PSJA ISD is an open-enrollment school district serving over 30,000 students. The district welcomes students living anywhere in the Rio Grande Valley. 

Parents interested in having their children take advantage of the Early College opportunities can learn more at www.psjaisd.us/earlycollegeprogram . 

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