Laredo ISD staff outline proposal for middle-school "prep academy" to feed early-college programs

Laredo ISD staff described an early-stage proposal Nov. 4 to create a middle-school "prep academy" or pipeline that would identify and prepare cohorts of middle-school students for guaranteed acceptance to the district—operated early-college programs.

Cindy Dominguez and Executive Director Cassandra Mendoza said the goal is to begin preparing students earlier—through targeted exposure to CTE, additional academic rigor, and sustained supports—so more students complete associates degrees or certifications once they reach LISD—early-college high schools. Dominguez said the idea is to "start targeting students at an early age" and described outreach already under way through CTE expos and counselor training. (00:56:00)

Why it matters: Early recruitment and structured middle-school supports could change which students access early-college benefits. Board members raised equity questions tied to the original purpose of some early-college campuses (first-generation students) and asked whether a pipeline would preserve that intent.

Key points staff presented - Vision and target: staff discussed a cohort model (an example cohort of 150—200 students was mentioned) that would be housed centrally (Memorial Middle School was discussed as a candidate) and designed to prepare students for guaranteed acceptance to any LISD early-college program, not only one campus. (00:59:30) - Equity and eligibility: board members and staff flagged that some early-college campuses are TEA-designated CCRSM campuses (which require open, equal-access processes such as blind lotteries if oversubscribed). Staff emphasized they are "not trying to push anything" but exploring how to better prepare underrepresented and at-risk students. (01:01:40) - Next steps: staff will visit model programs in the Rio Grande Valley (South Texas ISD, Rising Scholars models) and return with implementation details, including housing, eligibility criteria, staffing and accountability impacts.

Questions and constraints raised Board members asked whether the program would disproportionately enroll higher-performing students or would focus on underrepresented/at-risk students. Staff noted the importance of preserving early-college opportunities for first-generation students while expanding a middle-school pathway that can prepare a broader set of applicants. Several procedural questions remain open: how accountability will be assigned if students from many feeder schools are centralized, how CCRSM-designation rules would affect admissions, and whether existing campus staff would be sufficient to operate the program.

What staff said (selected): - "This is a prep academy at the middle school to prepare these middle school students for guaranteed acceptance to any of our early college academy programs," Dominguez said. (00:59:30) - Staff said they will "visit South Texas ISD... and the Rising Scholars Academy" to gather models and return with recommendations. (01:05:30)

Follow-up requested Staff will bring a more detailed plan after site visits, including an eligibility recommendation, housing options, staffing implications and an accountability analysis that describes any CCRSM/lottery implications for TEA-designated campuses.