La Joya ISD proposes consolidating specialty high‑school pathways into single early college

La Joya ISD officials on the district’s board meeting presented a plan to consolidate specialty high‑school pathways into one standalone early college at Jimmy Carter Early College High School, saying the change would reduce duplication, improve student supports and increase the number of students who graduate with an associate degree.

The proposal, outlined by Doctor Little and Chief Gomez Perez, follows an earlier "quality seats" analysis the district presented to the board. "That every student coming to La Jolla ISD will be a career technical education completer," Doctor Little said, framing the district goal of pairing CTE sequences with industry credentials and college credit.

District presenters told the board that 89% of CTE pathways are currently replicated across comprehensive high schools and that 71% of associate degrees are concentrated in one or two of the district’s ten pathways. Chief Gomez Perez argued the replication "puts a strain on our staff, on our budget, on our spaces" and that "more doesn't mean better" when program offerings outpace the supports students need to succeed.

Under the plan, the district would reduce the number of distinct pathway options at the specialty/early‑college level from eight toward three "high‑impact" pathways that account for roughly 84% of current degree awards. The recommendation is to consolidate the specialty campuses into a single standalone early college located at Jimmy Carter Early College High School; district leaders said comprehensive high schools would retain selected P‑TECH programs (for example, criminal justice at Juarez Lincoln and precision manufacturing at Palm View).

Officials emphasized that students already enrolled in pathway coursework would not lose their progress: current 10th and 11th graders would be able to finish their chosen associate‑degree coursework, even if their building assignment changes, and athletic and arts participation would be preserved with continued transportation. The district said it would not change comprehensive high‑school offerings for the 2025–26 school year and that CTE courses with sufficient enrollment would continue at scope.

Board members asked how pathway choices would be kept aligned with labor market demand and how dual‑credit rigor and access would be ensured. Doctor Little said the district will use regional workforce data and "stack" South Texas College opportunities onto CTE pathways; she also pointed to the superintendent’s strategic‑planning engagements with families and staff to inform future pathway choices. On instruction and quality control, Doctor Sorensen noted that South Texas College requires a rigorous hiring and onboarding process for associate instructors, ongoing professional development, and college walkthroughs by deans and program chairs to monitor dual‑credit classes.

District officials asked the board to consider a formal vote on the consolidation recommendation in January and described next steps — community conversations, staffing and scheduling work, and coordination with South Texas College — that would be necessary if the board approves the plan.

No formal vote was taken at the meeting.

What happens next: the board was asked to consider the consolidation recommendation at a January meeting after planned outreach to school staff, families and South Texas College.