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District considers sunsetting computer‑science CTE pathway at Veterans Memorial; administrators detail enrollment and cost tradeoffs
Summary
Judson ISD CTE staff said low incoming course requests may force the district to sunset the computer‑science pathway at Veterans Memorial High School, while noting the district still offers computer‑science coursework at Wagner High School.
District CTE staff told trustees they may sunset the computer‑science pathway at Veterans Memorial High School after reviewing course requests and program enrollments for the upcoming year.
Administrators said the computer‑science pathway at Veterans generated 49 course enrollments this year but had only 27 course requests for the next year, spread across four distinct courses (Computer Science 1, AP Computer Science principles, Computer Science math and Computer Science 3). Staff reported that many incoming requests clustered toward cybersecurity rather than computer science: of 43 incoming requests for the shared entry course (Principles of IT), 33 were for cybersecurity and only 10 for computer science. That pattern reduced the anticipated pipeline for a stand‑alone computer‑science program at Veterans.
CTE staff provided an estimated fiscal comparison: continuing a teacher at Veterans (salary assumed at $75,000) against the state funding generated by the current course enrollment (approximately $34,742) would leave a net local cost to the district on the order of $40,000; maintaining both the Veterans seat and an additional teacher to cover tech apps elsewhere could increase costs further. Administrators noted that Wagner High School continues to offer IT/computer‑science courses, so the program would remain in the district even if Veterans’ pathway is sunsetting.
Staff emphasized they reviewed whether students already in the pathway could be absorbed into cybersecurity or other CTE programs; they said four students were already certified completers and several others planned to continue in cybersecurity courses. Administrators said they would explore staffing options, including split assignments or stacking classes, and asked the board for time to exhaust alternatives before finalizing a sunsetting decision. Trustees asked staff to pursue split staffing options and return with follow‑up findings.
